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' 〃Is there？〃 said he； and at the same
time snatched it from my hand and threw
it into the fire。 What do you think of
that？ have I not a tender chicken to
manage？ Win or lose； I will not play
beyond five thousand to…night； and to…
morrow sees me safe out of the reach of
Sir Arthur's champagne。 So； all things
considered； I think you must allow that
you are not the last who have found a
knowing boy in
'Yours to command；
'HUGH TISDALL。'
Of the authenticity of this document I
never heard my father express a doubt；
and I am satisfied that； owing to his
strong conviction in favour of his brother；
he would not have admitted it without
sufficient inquiry； inasmuch as it tended to
confirm the suspicions which already
existed to his prejudice。
Now； the only point in this letter which
made strongly against my uncle； was the
mention of the 'double…clasped pocket…
book' as the receptacle of the papers
likely to involve him； for this pocket…book
was not forthcoming； nor anywhere to be
found； nor had any papers referring to his
gaming transactions been found upon the
dead man。 However； whatever might have
been the original intention of this Collis；
neither my uncle nor my father ever heard
more of him； but he published the letter
in Faulkner's newspaper； which was shortly
afterwards made the vehicle of a much
more mysterious attack。 The passage in
that periodical to which I allude； occurred
about four years afterwards； and while the
fatal occurrence was still fresh in public
recollection。 It commenced by a rambling
preface； stating that 'a CERTAIN PERSON
whom CERTAIN persons thought to be dead；
was not so； but living； and in full possession
of his memory； and moreover ready
and able to make GREAT delinquents
tremble。' It then went on to describe the
murder； without； however； mentioning
names； and in doing so； it entered into
minute and circumstantial particulars of
which none but an EYE…WITNESS could have
been possessed； and by implications almost
too unequivocal to be regarded in the light
of insinuation； to involve the 'TITLED
GAMBLER' in the guilt of the transaction。
My father at once urged Sir Arthur to
proceed against the paper in an action of
libel； but he would not hear of it； nor
consent to my father's taking any legal
steps whatever in the matter。 My father；
however； wrote in a threatening tone to
Faulkner； demanding a surrender of the
author of the obnoxious article。 The
answer to this application is still in my
possession； and is penned in an apologetic
tone： it states that the manuscript had
been handed in； paid for； and inserted as
an advertisement； without sufficient
inquiry； or any knowledge as to whom it
referred。
No step； however； was taken to clear
my uncle's character in the judgment of
the public； and as he immediately sold a
small property； the application of the
proceeds of which was known to none； he
was said to have disposed of it to enable
himself to buy off the threatened information。
However the truth might have been；
it is certain that no charges respecting the
mysterious murder were afterwards publicly
made against my uncle； and； as far as
external disturbances were concerned； he
enjoyed henceforward perfect security and
quiet。
A deep and lasting impression； however；
had been made upon the public mind； and
Sir Arthur Tn was no longer visited
or noticed by the gentry and aristocracy of
the county； whose attention and courtesies
he had hitherto received。 He accordingly
affected to despise these enjoyments which
he could not procure； and shunned even
that society which he might have commanded。
This is all that I need recapitulate of my
uncle's history； and I now recur to my own。
Although my father had never； within my
recollection； visited； or been visited by； my
uncle； each being of sedentary； procrastinating；
and secluded habits； and their respective
residences being very far apart
the one lying in the county of Galway； the
other in that of Corkhe was strongly
attached to his brother； and evinced his
affection by an active correspondence； and
by deeply and proudly resenting that
neglect which had marked Sir Arthur as
unfit to mix in society。
When I was about eighteen years of
age； my father； whose health had been
gradually declining； died； leaving me in
heart wretched and desolate； and； owing to
his previous seclusion； with few acquaintances；
and almost no friends。
The provisions of his will were curious；
and when I had sufficiently come to myself
to listen to or comprehend them；
surprised me not a little： all his vast property
was left to me； and to the heirs of my
body； for ever； and； in default of such
heirs； it was to go after my death to my
uncle； Sir Arthur； without any entail。
At the same time； the will appointed
him my guardian； desiring that I might be
received within his house； and reside with
his family； and under his care； during the
term of my minority； and in consideration
of the increased expense consequent upon
such an arrangement； a handsome annuity
was allotted to him during the term of my
proposed residence。
The object of this last provision I at
once understood： my father desired； by
making it the direct； apparent interest of
Sir Arthur that I should die without
issue； while at the same time he placed me
wholly in his power； to prove to the world
how great and unshaken was his
confidence in his brother's innocence and
honour； and also to afford him an
opportunity of showing that this mark of
confidence was not unworthily bestowed。
It was a strange； perhaps an idle
scheme； but as I had been always brought
up in the habit of considering my uncle as
a deeply…injured man； and had been taught；
almost as a part of my religion； to regard
him as the very soul of honour； I felt no
further uneasiness respecting the arrangement
than that likely to result to a timid
girl； of secluded habits； from the immediate
prospect of taking up her abode for the
first time in her life among total strangers。
Previous to leaving my home； which I felt
I should do with a heavy heart； I re…
ceived a most tender and affectionate letter
from my uncle； calculated； if anything
could do so； to remove the bitterness of
parting from scenes familiar and dear from
my earliest childhood； and in some degree
to reconcile me to the measure。
It was during a fine autumn that I
approached the old domain of Carrickleigh。
I shall not soon forget the impression of
sadness and of gloom which all that I saw
produced upon my mind； the sunbeams
were falling with a rich and melancholy
tint upon the fine old trees； which stood in
lordly groups； casting their long； sweeping
shadows over rock and sward。 There was
an air of neglect and decay about the spot；
whic