'Was it from a confession? Is it known who—who was the real unhappy person?'
'Yes. Had you no suspicion?'
'No—none,' said Averil, shuddering, 'unless it was some robber. Who was it?'
'You had never thought of the other nephew?'
'You don't mean Samuel Axworthy! Oh! no. Why the last thing Leonard bade me, was always to pray for him.'
'Ah!' said Tom, with bent head, and colouring cheeks; 'but who are those for whom such as Leonard would feel bound to pray?'
There was a moment's silence, and then she said, 'His enemy! Is that what you mean? But then he would have known it was he.'
'He was entirely convinced that so it must have been, but there was no proof, and an unsupported accusation would only have made his own case worse.'
'And has he confessed? has he been touched and cleared Leonard at last?'
'No; he had no space granted him. It was the receipt in your brother's writing that was found upon him.'