A CONFESSION b41
seek to vent his rage and spite upon you. Now it is clear,
Charlie, that you could not very well kill a man and after-
wards marry his daughter. The thing would be scarce
seemly. But the fellow is no kinsman of mine. He has
grievously injured us, and I could kill him without the
smallest compunction, and thereby rid the world of a
scoundrel and you of a prospective father-in-law of the
most objectionable kind.”

Charlie laughed. “No, Harry; we will have no killing.
We will go down and see him together. We will let him
know that the orders are probably already on the road for
his arrest, and that he had best lose not an hour, but at
once cross the water. I should not think that he would
wish to encumber himself with women, for I never thought
he showed the least affection to either his wife or daughter.
At any rate we will see that he does not take them with
him. I will tell him that if he goes, and goes alone, I
will do my best to hush up the matter, and that so long as
he remains abroad the tale of his villainy shall never be
told, but that, if he returns, the confession of Nicholson
shall be published throughout the country, even if no pros-
ecution is brought against him.”

. When they called upon the duke he shook them warmly
by the hand.

“This parchment is the royal assent to the decision of
the council that the estates of those inculpated in the
alleged plot for the assassination of the late king should be
forthwith restored to them, it having been clearly proved
that they have been falsely accused of the said crime, and
that her majesty is satisfied that these gentlemen are her
true and loyal subjects. I think I may say,” the duke con-
tinued with a smile, “that no affair of state has ever been
so promptly conducted and carried through.”

“We feel how deeply indebted we are for our good fort-
une to your kindness, your grace,” Charlie said. “We