As he spoke he drew from his pocket a handsome gold watch and chain.
“I observed that you had no watch,” he said, “and I resolved to supply the deficiency.”
“How can I thank you, Walter?” exclaimed Bernard in joyful excitement. “Of all things it is the one I most desired.”
“You will find it a good one. In such an article as a watch, a cheap one is not desirable. Here is one which you can keep all your life.”
Before leaving London Bernard wrote the following letter to his friend Barclay:
“Dear Nat: You may be desirous of hearing from me. I have not time to go into details. I will say, however, that my New York guardian is no friend of mine, but as well as I can make out, a dangerous enemy. He sent me to England in charge of a man named Puffer—he calls himself Professor Puffer—who tried to throw me overboard one dark night. I escaped from him after reaching London and secured a very advantageous situation as traveling companion to a wealthy young man named Walter Cunningham. We start next week for Italy, and I am very busy making preparations. I will write you from Italy.
“Do you ever see my dear friend Septimus, and is he as sweet and amiable as ever? I didn’t like his father, but I prefer him to Professor Puffer.
“Your sincere friend,
“Bernard Brooks.”