"Oh, Frothingham," he said, "I have something truly strange to tell you! I was on a visit of inspection to the town prisons a week or so ago, and at an old sugar-house on Rose or Vine Street I saw your very double. The resemblance has been haunting me, and I just have placed it."
"I seem to have doubles everywhere," answered William, carelessly, though a great fear welled up in his heart. "I had supposed you were going to tell me that I look like a Mr. Blount."
"I know him not," answered the officer, "but I do assure you that you bear a great resemblance to this prisoner."
When William reached his room that night he rested for a long time, wide-awake and thinking. It might be George who was held in prison.
All the next morning he was on duty at headquarters, and in the afternoon he hastened toward the old sugar-house, whose location he knew from the officer's description. With little trouble he succeeded in getting permission from the jailer to look through the cells and corridors. He had muffled part of his face in a wide silk neckerchief, and had pushed his hat well forward on his forehead. He advanced hastily into the large hall, and his eye ran around in a swift glance. With a sense of relief that there was no one there that resembled the description in the slightest way, he went on until he came to the cell next but one to the end of the corridor. He looked within. Though the light was quite dim, he could make out a figure lying on a patchwork quilt. He placed his face close to the bars. His heart was beating furiously. There could be no doubt about it. He grasped the iron closer for support. It was George, his brother, fast asleep. The Virgil lay open on the floor, and one slender finger marked the place.
With an effort William managed to compose himself. "What is this young man imprisoned for?" he asked, in a whisper, of the jailer at his side.
"For stealing a watch," was the reply. "He tried to escape, and has been wounded slightly in the arm. He appears to have been a likely youth, and 'tis a shame that he should have fallen so, for he has some learning." The man shook his head pityingly.
William did not hear the last words. It appeared to him that a bright flash came and went before his eyes, and again he grasped the bars of the doorway. His brother George a thief. It could not be!
"Shall I wake him, sir," put in the jailer, not noticing William's perturbation.
The young officer recovered himself.