CHAPTER V. He who hath trod the paths of life, W. S. LANDOR. I RESUMED my journey on the following morning and reached my father's house about noon. I found him just preparing to set off for Mr. Thompson's. He was highly pleased to see me, for he was wishing to know what had taken place on my part, and from want of that knowledge had been a good deal embarrassed in his plans of proceeding. I briefly recounted what had occurred, and the statement confirmed him in his opinion of the propriety of seeing Thompson in person as soon as possible, and proposed to me to join him in his journey for that purpose, and discuss matters more at length on our way. I assented very readily to this, and we set off together without delay. "The moment that I received from you," said my father, as we cantered briskly along the road, “the narrative of the disappearance of that letter of Thompson's which I sent to you, I determined to lose no time in supplying its place by another document from the same quarter. Circumstances, which I could not put aside, prevented my visiting the writer myself which I should otherwise have done; but I at once despatched a dependible servant with orders to obtain from him a detailed statement in writing of the whole of his connexion with Torrens so far as it affected me, and to have it duly and formally authenticated. This paper was accordingly procured from him by my messenger, but owing to some mistake or negligence-which might indeed have been expected from employing the agency of another in an affair so delicate and important-is very unprecise in its language, and has no authority of witnesses or acknowledgment. It is, in fact, a loose and rambling declaration of facts, with the signature of a man whose handwriting cannot possibly be proved. I received it about an hour ago, and resolved to lose no time in correcting the omission and securing, beyond. accident of failure, all the evidence which this individual has to impart. It was for this object that you found my horse at the door. You acted with entire discretion in sending those whom you did, upon the same errand; but that by no means dispenses with the propriety of our undertaking the same mission. No one can do this business so thoroughly and securely as ourselves, and I can elicit much valuable information from Thompson which another would never think of inquiring for." "In mentioning to you," said I," the proceedings of his former accomplice which I witnessed, I forgot to tell you, that I have long known this person whom you call Torrens, by the name of Tyler. I met him in company as a conspicuous member of the society which I frequented, and was delighted and surprised by his talent and accomplishment. In truth, I have never seen any man for whose mental powers I have conceived a higher estimation, nor one more distinguished for intellectual dignity and moral elevation." "I formed the same opinion of him," said my father, "when I met him on several occasions on which our mutual relations to Mr. Thompson brought us together. He then appeared, as I have told you, in the character of a large creditor of that person whose surety I was. He impressed me, at that time, with a strong conviction of his entire honesty, and eminent respectability. He had none of the plausibility of manner by which an ordinary rogue would have sought to recommend himself. He was reserved, and somewhat stately in his demeanour, and rather seemed to disregard the notion which might be formed of him; he inclined you to respect rather than esteem him, and to admire him more than like him. He had none of the vulgar rapacity of a man who exulted in seizing the spoil he had been struggling for; but, on the contrary, all the gentlemanlike delicacy and consideration of a man accustomed to refined and pure associations of thought and conversation, and who comprehended and consulted my feelings by the sympathy of a similar character. He left with me a most favourable recollection, not unmingled with the gratitude which is felt for the display of that honourable courtesy in periods of distress, which we think can only be prompted by sentiments of genuine exaltedness." "The ability," said I, "which he has displayed with such signal results, to my experience, makes me extremely doubtful of our final success in what we have undertaken. Still, to mortal power there must be a limit, and I think that in this case, his has been passed. He seems to have entrusted the whole care of Thompson to his brother and the man to whom he was sent ; and if he has taken no other means to put him out of the way, I believe we shall baffle him. Our greatest protection lies in the circumstance, that he is ignorant of Thompson's residence; and unless the latter has written to some one beside yourself, none but you and his brother are acquainted with it. If we are not disappointed in getting such papers as we hope for, I think that Mr. Tyler must have both the inspired knowledge of the cloven-tongue, and the inspired power of the cloven-foot if he filches them from us again. He has violated the wisdom of the Spartan maxim, and if he has not taught us how to conquer him, has at least given us such practical knowledge, as will prevent our being a second time conquered." The road which we were now upon, struck into that which Seward and his companion were following, about the distance of a day's journey from the place where Thompson was lying. Owing to the crookedness of the way by which they were going, the circuitous course which I had taken was, in fact, not longer than theirs, and the soil vastly better. There was a reasonable hope, that by rapid riding, we should be able to reach the road which they were travelling, before they had passed the spot where we should in this way join them. It was near the close of the following day that we arrived at the junction of the two directions, and we rode along for some time before we could ascertain whether the party which we were in quest of had gone by. We at length came upon a toll-gate, from the keeper of which, we learned that no persons answering the description which we gave had ridden through within that or the preceding day. We, therefore, waited at the next inn for their approach, and in the course of two or three hours they came up. It was quite dark by the time they overtook us, and as there was no good inn farther on, which could be reached that night, and the road was bad and not very safe, we decided to remain where we were that evening and push forward on the following morning. The next day, it was thought, would bring us to the end of our journey. My companions, being fatigued with their ride, had retired to bed about nine o'clock. For my own part, not being inclined to sleep, I remained sitting upon a small portico which ran along the back of the inn, enjoying the freshness of the evening air and meditating upon the affairs which now engrossed all my consideration. I had been musing silently in this way for half an hour, when a horseman rodę rapidly into the yard and dismounted at a little distance from me. I was hidden in the shadow of the porch and he did not see The landlord came out to receive him, and after me. some salutations had passed between them, the stranger said in a low, but somewhat anxious voice, "What company have you here?" "There are four gentlemen," replied the landlord, "who came from the north this evening; and there is a man from the country, and that is all." "Did the four persons you speak of, all come together? Are they of the same party?" "Ay! they are all of one company." "Did you hear the names of any of them?" pursued the stranger, in the same smothered tone. 66 Why, I heard one of them called Stanley, and another called Thompson; but I do not rightly know who they are, nor where they come from." 66 Stanley, did you say?" inquired the traveller, with a tone of some surprise; "a young man, I suppose?" "No," said the landlord, "the gentleman they called by that name is an oldish man-a kind of pretty old man." 66 Humph! And they go to-morrow?" "Their horses are ordered at sunrise: but one of the gentlemen is here in the room, and you can see him if you want. You seem so particular, perhaps you know them. But-here, John, take the gentleman's horse." "No, I am going on; I am very sorry I can't stop. I have business ahead." "Why, you can't get to the Stony Run this night, any how, with them bad roads and no moon, neither." "O yes!" replied the other, getting into his saddle, "the moon is just rising and I shall have an easy ride. Hark ye! landlord," putting something into his hand, 66 you need not mention that any body passed; I am looking after a gang of counterfeiters that came along this road, and I do not want it known that I am after them." “Do you think these be them?" said the host, in an eager whisper. 66 No, they are not; it is a different party, that, I suspect, has gone forward. Good night;" and he dashed |