My heart beat quick, and the perspiration bedewed my forehead, when I heard this intelligence. At last, my emotion was so great, that I felt faint. "You are ill, sir," said one of the gentlemen; "quick—a glass of water."
The attendant brought a glass of water, which I drank, and recovered myself. "You appear to be much interested in this young man's welfare."
"I am, sir," replied I; "no one can be more so."
The secretary now made his appearance with the register, and after turning over the leaves, read as follows: "August the 16th—, a gentleman came to inquire after an infant left here, of the name of Japhet, with whom money had been deposited—Japhet, christened by order of the governors, Japhet Newland—referred to the shop of Mr Cophagus, Smithfield Market. He returned the next day, saying that Mr Cophagus had retired from business—that the parties in the shop knew nothing for certain, but believed that the said Japhet Newland had been transported for life for forgery, about a year before."
"Good heavens! what an infamous assertion!" exclaimed I, clasping my hands.
"On reference back to the calendar, we observed that one J. Newland was transported for such an offence. Query?"
"It must have been some other person; but this has arisen from the vindictive feeling of those two scoundrels who served under Pleggit," cried I.
"How can you possibly tell, sir?" mildly observed one of the governors.
"How can I tell, sir?" replied I, starting from my chair. "Why, I am Japhet Newland myself, sir."
"You, sir," replied the governor, surveying my fashionable exterior, my chains, and bijouterie.