“Can he read and write?”
“I’m proud to say he kin, Kunnle. I towt his mother, and she towt him and the rest of the childern.”
“Well, Hyde, go into the next room and write a letter to your nephew, telling him to start at once for New York city, and report himself to Mr. William C. Vance, Astor House. I’ll give you a couple of hundred dollars to enclose for him to pay his expenses, and a couple of hundred more for your sister.”
Four hundred dollars! What an epoch would it be in their domestic history, when that stupendous sum should fall into the hands of Mrs. Rusk! Colonel Hyde moved with alacrity to comply with Vance’s bidding.
Mr. Winslow and Captain Onslow now entered, followed by Colonel Blake, between whom and Vance a friendship had sprung up during the voyage from New York. Suddenly Peek, who had been looking from the window, exclaimed: “There goes the man who could tell us, if he would, what we want.”
“Who is it?” cried Vance.
“Ratcliff’s lawyer, Semmes. See him crossing the street!”
“Captain Onslow,” said Vance, “arrest the man at once.”
Five minutes did not elapse before Semmes, bland and suave, and accompanied by Peek and Onslow, entered the room.
“Ha! my dear friend Winslow!” cried the old lawyer, putting out his hand, “I’m delighted to see you. Make me acquainted with your friends.”