“We will grant that, sir; but after you had opened it you must have known that it was for some other person.”

“I will not deny that, my lord.”

“Notwithstanding which, you apply to my lawyer, representing yourself as another person, to obtain sealed papers.”

“I did, my lord; but allow me to say, that I never should have done so, had I not been warned by a dream.”

“By a dream?”

“Yes, my lord.  I had determined not to go for them, when in a dream I was ordered so to do.”

“Paltry excuse! and then you break private seals.”

“Nay, my lord, although I did go for the papers, I could not, even with the idea of supernatural interposition, make up my mind to break the seals.  If your lordship will recollect, it was you who broke the seals, and insisted upon my reading the papers.”

“Yes, sir, under your false name.”

“It is the name by which I go at present, although I acknowledge it is false; but that is not my fault—­I have no other at present.”

“It is very true, sir, that in all I have now mentioned, the law will not reach you; but recollect, that by assuming another person’s name—­”

“I never did, my lord,” interrupted I.

“Well, I may say, by inducing me to believe that you were my nephew, you have obtained money under false pretences; and for that I now have you in my power.”

“My lord, I never asked you for the money; you yourself paid it into the banker’s hands to my credit, and to my own name.  I appeal to you now, whether, if you so deceived yourself, the law can reach me?”

“Mr Newland, I will say, that much as I regret what has passed, I regret more than all the rest, that one so young, so prepossessing, so candid in appearance, should prove such an adept in deceit.  Thinking you were my nephew, my heart warmed towards you, and I must confess, that since I have seen my real nephew, the mortification has been very great.”

“My lord, I thank you; but allow me to observe, that I am no swindler.  Your thousand pounds you will find safe in the bank, for penury would not have induced me to touch it.  But now that your lordship appears more cool, will you do me the favour to listen to me?  When you have heard my life up to the present, and my motives for what I have done, you will then decide how far I am to blame.”

His lordship took a chair, and motioned to me to take another.  I narrated what had occurred when I was left at the Foundling, and gave him a succinct account of my adventures subsequently—­my determination to find my father—­the dream which induced me to go for the papers—­and all that the reader has already been acquainted with.  His lordship evidently perceived the monomania which controlled me, and heard me with great attention.

“You certainly, Mr Newland, do not stand so low in my opinion as you did before this explanation, and I must make allowances for the excitement under which I perceive you to labour on one subject; but now, sir, allow me to put one question, and I beg that you will answer candidly.  What price do you demand for your secrecy on this important subject?”