'My child, my child!' cried Wilkinson, with a tone of such indescribable agony, as made the blood curdle in my veins.
'Dear Sir,' said I, returning; 'indeed I am your friend. But you know, you know well, I am not your child.'
'You are!' cried he, 'by all that is just and good, you are my own child!'
'By all that is just and good,' exclaimed Montmorenci, 'you shall come away this instant, or remain here for ever.' And he dragged me out of the room.
'Now then,' said the poor prisoner, as the door was closing, 'now do what you please with me, for my heart is quite broken!'
On our way home, his lordship enjoined the strictest secrecy with regard to this adventure. I shewed him the hundred pounds, and reimbursed him for what he had paid the Doctor; and on our arrival, I discharged my debt to the poet.
Adieu.
LETTER XIII
Soon after I had got into these lodgings, I sent the servant to Grosvenor Square, with a message for Betterton, requesting him to let me have back the bandbox, which I left at his house the night I fled from him. In a short time she returned with it, and I found every article safe.
To my amazement and dismay, who should enter my apartment this morning but Betterton himself! I dropped my book. He bowed to the dust.