“I do,” replied the other—­“She is under a strong impression, in consequence of the dying man’s allusion to the boy’s uncle, Sir Thomas, ‘who,’ he said, ‘knows,’ that he is cognizant of the position—­whatever it may be—­in which her unfortunate son is placed.”

“Not unlikely, but still what can I do in this?”

“I am scarcely aware of that myself,” replied the other; “but I may say that it was Mr. Birney, who, under the circumstances of peculiar difficulty in which I am placed, suggested to me to see you, and who justified me besides in reposing this important confidence in you.”

“I thank Mr. Birney,” said Father Peter, “and you may rest assured, that your confidence will not be abused, and that upon a higher principle, I trust, than my friendship for that worthy and estimable gentleman.  I wish all in his dirty roguish profession were like him.  By the way,” he added, as if struck by a sudden thought, “perhaps you are the worthy gentleman who kicked the Black Baronet downstairs in the Mitre inn?”

“No,” he replied; “some warm words we had, which indeed for one reason I regret; but that was all.  Sir Thomas, sir, I believe, is not popular in the neighborhood?”

“I make it a point, my friend,” replied the priest, “never to spake ill of the absent; but perhaps you are aware that his only son disappeared as mysteriously as the other, and that he charges his sister-in-law as the cause of it; so that, in point of fact, their suspicions are mutual.”

“I believe so,” said the other; “but I wish to direct your attention to another fact, or, rather, to another individual, who seems to me to be involved in considerable mystery.”

“And pray, who is that.” replied the priest—­“Not yourself, I hope; for in truth, by all accounts, you’re as mysterious as e’er a one of them.”

“My mystery will soon disappear, I trust,” said the stranger, smiling—­“The young man’s name to whom I allude is Fenton; but I appeal to yourself, reverend sir, whether, if Sir Thomas Gourlay were to become aware of the dying man’s words, with which I have just made you acquainted, he might not be apt, if it be a fact that he has in safe and secret durance his brother’s son, and the heir to the property which he himself now enjoys, whether, I say, he might not take such steps as Would probably render fruitless every search that could be made for him?”

“You needn’t fear me, sir,” replied his reverence; “if you can keep your own secret as well as I will, it won’t travel far, I can tell you.  But what about this unfortunate young man, Fenton?  I think I certainly heard the people say from time to time that nobody knows anything about him, either as to where he came from or who he is.  How is he involved in this affair, though?”

“I cannot speak with any certainty,” replied the other; “but, to tell you the truth, I often feel myself impressed with strong suspicions, that he is the very individual we are seeking.”