“Then Mr. Carvel died without knowing that I was safe?” I interrupted.

“On that I’ll lay all my worldly goods,” replied Captain Daniel, emphatically.  “If any letters came to Marlboro’ Street from you, Mr. Carvel never dropped eyes on ’em.”

“What a fool was I not to have written you!” I groaned.

He drew his chair around the table, and close to mine.

“Had the news that you escaped death been cried aloud in the streets, my lad, ’twould never have got to your grandfather’s ear,” he said, in lower tones.  “I will tell you what happened, tho’ I have it at second hand, being in the North, as you may remember.  Grafton came in from Kent and invested Marlboro’ Street.  He himself broke the news to Mr. Carvel, who took to his bed.  Leiden was not in attendance, you may be sure, but that quack-doctor Drake.  Swain sent me a message, and I killed a horse getting here from New York.  But I could no more gain admittance to your grandfather, Richard, than to King George the Third.  I was met in the hall by that crocodile, who told me with too many fair words that I could not see my old friend; that for the present Dr. Drake denied him everybody.  Then I damned Dr. Drake, and Grafton too.  And I let him know my suspicions.  He ordered me off, Richard—­from that house which has been my only home for these twenty years.”  His voice broke.

“Mr. Carvel thought me dead, then.”

“And most mercifully.  Your black Hugo, when he was somewhat recovered, swore he had seen you killed and carried off.  Sooth, they say there was blood enough on the place.  But we spared no pains to obtain a clew of you.  I went north to Boston, and Lloyd’s factor south to Charleston.  But no trace of the messenger who came to the Coffee House after you could we find.  Hell had opened and swallowed him.  And mark this for consummate villany:  Grafton himself spent no less than five hundred pounds in advertising and the like.”

“And he is not suspected?” I asked.  This was the same question I had put to Mrs. Manners.  It caused the captain to flare up again.

“’Tis incredible how a rogue may impose upon men of worth and integrity if he but know how to smirk piously, and never miss a service.  And then he is an exceeding rich man.  Riches cover a multitude of sins in the most virtuous community in the world.  Your Aunt Caroline brought him a pretty fortune, you know.  We had ominous times this spring, with the associations forming, and the ‘Good Intent’ and the rest being sent back to England.  His Excellency was at his wits’ end for support.  It was Grafton Carvel who helped him most, and spent money like tobacco for the King’s cause, which, being interpreted, was for his own advancement.  But I believe Colonel Lloyd suspects him, tho’ he has never said as much to me.  I have told Mr. Swain, under secrecy, what I think.  He is one of the ablest lawyers that the colony owns, Richard, and a stanch friend of yours.  He took your case of his own accord.  But he says we have no foothold as yet.”