“Green, I advise you to leave the city as soon as possible.  There are two parties of the ‘secret band’ that seek your life; those who are so much enraged at the loss of the papers, because their reputation, fortunes, and lives, are thereby in jeopardy, and those who are the personal friends of my brother, and who support him, do or say what he may.  They take his word with the infallibility of law and gospel, and are by profession great friends of mine, as well as of the other party, who swear they will have those papers at all hazards, right or wrong; meaning if you have them, they will obtain them in some way; that if I have them they shall be returned.  I therefore advise you to leave the city immediately.”

I told him I had no funds.

“I have not one dollar,” said he, “to help you off, or I would give it to you.”

I told him I was under great obligations for his kindness.  He further remarked: 

“Now pledge me secrecy to what I have related, for it can have no effect in assisting you, and will ruin me.”

I did so, and bade him farewell.  I hastened to see Mr. Munger, and told him what the colonel had said about the counterfeit money and the money I had found by Sandford’s note, but not a word as to the mysterious package.

CHAPTER VIII.

Shortly after the events detailed in the foregoing chapter, I had a conversation with Mr. Munger, who told me, he was satisfied that my life was in danger, and advised me to leave the city for a few weeks, or, at least, to change my boarding-place, and keep myself in seclusion.  Accordingly, I changed my quarters as soon as possible.  I could not well leave the city, as Mr. Munger informed me I must be present to appear in court when Taylor was tried, in case the younger brother acted the part he had promised; and if not, it would be equally important for me to be on hand, as they intended to indict him and his pettifogger, for their wicked designs upon the man they were endeavouring to ruin.  As I could not go far out of the city, under these circumstances, I considered it more safe to remain concealed:  I waited, therefore, several days, until the colonel’s death, which occurred not long after I bade him farewell.

I had met Cunningham—­the old man at first charged with having the package by Mrs. Brown—­several times after the colonel had advised me to leave the city, and in our last interview, he gave me to understand that the colonel would never get out of his bed alive, or leave the hospital, except when carried to his burial.  I asked him, why.

“There are many reasons.  His health will never be any better; he cannot recover from his present illness.  I know it is hard, but there are many who think it is preferable that one should suffer than thousands, who consider themselves better men.  He has brought this trouble upon himself, by not living up to his oath.  He and his brother are both traitors, and have placed the fraternity, of which they are members, entirely in the power of their enemies, but it will all come out right; there is no mistake.  You heard that Madam Brown had lost a certain package of papers, letters, or the like, did you not?”