Chapter 38

What other inquiries were to be resolved by our young friend, we were now, at this late hour, obliged to postpone till the morrow. I shall pass over the reflections which a story like this would naturally suggest, and hasten to our next interview.

After breakfast next morning, the subject of last night’s conversation was renewed. I told him that something had occurred in his absence, in relation to Mrs. Wentworth and her nephew, that had perplexed us not a little. “My information is obtained,” continued I, “from Wortley; and it is nothing less than that young Clavering, Mrs. Wentworth’s nephew, is, at this time, actually alive.”

Surprise, but none of the embarrassment of guilt, appeared in his countenance at these tidings. He looked at me as if desirous that I should proceed.

“It seems,” added I, “that a letter was lately received by this lady from the father of Clavering, who is now in Europe. This letter reports that this son was lately met with in Charleston, and relates the means which old Mr. Clavering had used to prevail upon his son to return home; means, of the success of which he entertained well-grounded hopes. What think you?”

“I can only reject it,” said he, after some pause, “as untrue. The father’s correspondent may have been deceived. The father may have been deceived, or the father may conceive it necessary to deceive the aunt, or some other supposition as to the source of the error may be true; but an error it surely is. Clavering is not alive. I know the chamber where he died, and the withered pine under which he lies buried.”

“If she be deceived,” said I, “it will be impossible to rectify her error.”

“I hope not. An honest front and a straight story will be sufficient.”

“How do you mean to act?”

“Visit her, without doubt, and tell her the truth. My tale will be too circumstantial and consistent to permit her to disbelieve.”

“She will not hearken to you. She is too strongly prepossessed against you to admit you even to a hearing.”

“She cannot help it. Unless she lock her door against me, or stuff her ears with wool, she must hear me. Her prepossessions are reasonable, but are easily removed by telling the truth. Why does she suspect me of artifice? Because I seemed to be allied to Welbeck, and because I disguised the truth. That she thinks ill of me is not her fault, but my misfortune; and, happily for me, a misfortune easily removed.”

“Then you will try to see her?”

“I will see her, and the sooner the better. I will see her to-day; this morning; as soon as I have seen Welbeck, whom I shall immediately visit in his prison.”

“There are other embarrassments and dangers of which you are not aware. Welbeck is pursued by many persons whom he has defrauded of large sums. By these persons you are deemed an accomplice in his guilt, and a warrant is already in the hands of officers for arresting you wherever you are found.”

“In what way,” said Mervyn, sedately, “do they imagine me a partaker of his crime?”