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〃When you afterwards heard him say he was William Stanley； did you tell him you knew his real name？〃
〃Yes； I told him I knew he lied； for my brother had buried Stanley with his own hands； and that I had his papers at home。 Then he told me； he was only laughing at the green…horns。〃
〃Did you mention to any one at the time that you knew this man was not William Stanley？〃
〃No； sir； for I didn't speak to him until we were alone； and we parted company next morning； for I went to sea。〃
〃When did you next see Hopgood？〃
〃Well； I didn't fall in with him again for a long while； until this last spring。 When I came home from a voyage to China in the Mandarin； last May； I went to my mother's； near New Bedford； and then I found a chap had been to see her in the winter； and persuaded her to give him all the papers in the old chest； that had belonged to William Stanley； making out he was one of the young man's relations。 It was that lawyer Clapp； and Hopgood had put him on the track of them 'ere papers。〃
〃What were the documents in your chest？〃
〃Most of what they had to show came from me： to be sure； Hopgood had got some letters and papers； written to himself of late years under the name of William Stanley； but all they had before the wreck of the Jefferson came from me。〃
〃Were there any books among the articles in your possession？〃
〃No； sir； nothing but the pocket…book。〃
〃Are you quite sure？ Was there not one book with William Stanley's name in it？〃
〃Not one； that 'ere book they had in court didn't come from me； how they got it I don't know；〃 replied Stebbins positively； who； it seemed； knew nothing of the volume of the Spectator。
〃Where did you next meet Hopgood？〃
〃Well； I was mad when I found he had got them papers； but the lawyer had left a message with my mother； saying if I came home； she was to tell me I'd hear something to my advantage by applying to him。 So I went after him to the place where he lives； and sure enough there was Hopgood； and he and Clapp as thick as can be together。 I guess they'd have liked it better if I had never showed myself again： but they got round me； and told me how it was all settled； and if I would only lend a hand； and keep quiet about Hopgood； and speak for them once in a while； they would enter into an agreement to give me enough to make a skipper of me at once。 Them 'ere lawyers they can make black look like whiteand so I agreed to it at last。〃
Hazlehurst strongly suspected that less persuasion had been necessary than the man wished him to believe。
〃Did they tell you all their plan？〃
〃Pretty much all； they said it was easy to make people believe Hopgood was William Stanley； for he looked so much like the young man； that he had been asked if that wasn't his name。 He said it was that first gave him the notion of passing off for William Stanleythat； and knowing all about the family； and the young man himself。 He said Stanley had no near relations who would be likely to remember him； there was only one old gentleman they was afraid of； but they calculated they knew enough to puzzle him too。 Hopgood had been practising after Stanley's handwriting； he was pretty good at that trade when he was a shaver；〃 said Stebbins； with a look which showed he knew the story of the forgery。 〃He was bred a lawyer； and them 'ere lawyers are good at all sorts of tricks。 Clapp and him had made out a story from my papers and what they know'd before； and got it all ready in a letter； they agreed that from the time of the wreck； they had better keep pretty straight to Hopgood's real life； and so they did。〃
〃They seem to have laid all their plans before you。〃
〃Well； they couldn't help it； for they wanted me to tell them all I heard from my brother； but I told 'em to speak first。 They made out that Hopgood had a right to the property； for they said that old Mr。 Stanley had no family to leave it to； that you was a stranger； and that Hopgood was a relation。〃
〃This Hopgood； who first helped to corrupt William Stanley； even if he had actually been a near relation； would have been the last human being to whom Mr。 Stanley would have left his property；〃 said Harry； coolly。 〃But go on with your story； why did they not show the pocket…book before the trial？〃
〃They settled it so； because they thought it would look better before the jury。〃
〃Why did you change your own mind so soon after the trial？ You should have come to me before。〃
〃Hopgood and I had a quarrel only three days ago； when he was drunk； he swore they could have done without me； and I swore I'd be revenged。 Then that fellow； Clapp； wouldn't pay me on the spot according to agreement； as soon as they had gained the cause。 I had kept my part； and he hadn't lifted a finger yet for me； nor he wouldn't if he could help it； for all he had given me his word。 I know him from more than one thing that came out； he is one of your fellows who sham gentlemen； with a fine coat to his back； but I wouldn't trust him with a sixpence out of sight； no； nor out of arm's length；〃 and Stebbins went on； swearing roundly at Clapp and Hopgood； until Harry interrupted him。
〃I know them 'ere lawyers； they think they can cheat Jack any day； but I won't trust him an hour longer！ I know your real gentleman from your tricky sham at a minute's warning； though their coats be both cut off the same piece of broadcloth。 I haven't served under Uncle Sam's officers for nothing。 Now I'll trust you； Mr。 Hazlehurst； as long as it suits you； I'd no more have talked to Clapp without having his name down in black and white； as I have to you； than I'd be shot。〃
〃The agreement I have made shall be strictly kept；〃 replied Harry； coldly。 〃Had you come to me before the trial； you would have had the same reward； without the crime of perjury。〃
〃Well； that 'ere perjury made me feel uncomfortable； and what with having sworn vengeance on Clapp and Hopgood； I made up my mind to go straight back to Philadelphy； and turn state's evidence。 I was waiting for a chance to get to New York when I saw you on the wharf at Nantucket； and I knew you in a minute。〃
The conversation was here interrupted by a call from the beach； which attracted Harry's attention； after having been so much engrossed during the disclosures of Stebbins； as to be quite regardless of what was going on about him。 It was de Vaux who had calledhe now approached。
〃I couldn't think where that fellow； Stebbins； had got to； if you have nothing for him to do here； Hazlehurst； he is wanted yonder。〃
Harry and the sailor accordingly parted。 After exchanging a few words to conclude their agreement； they both returned to the beach。
The Petrel seemed to be getting under way again； Smith and de Vaux； who had just returned from the wood with their guns； and Charlie； who had just left his sketching apparels； were standing together looking on when Harry joined them。
〃I didn't know what had become of you；〃 said Charlie。 〃What a long yarn that fellow seemed to be telling you！〃
〃It was well worth hearing；〃 said Harry； with a significant look at his friend。
〃Really？ I had some hope it might prove so from the man's look；〃 added Charlie； comprehending at once the drift of the conversation； though he had