memorable incidents of five days of my life; from which I have gathered
more instruction than from the whole tissue of my previous existence.
Such are the particulars of my knowledge respecting the crimes and
misfortunes of Welbeck; which the insinuations of Wortley, and my desire
to retain your good opinion, have induced me to unfold.




CHAPTER XIII.


Mervyn's pause allowed his auditors to reflect on the particulars of his
narration, and to compare them with the facts with a knowledge of which
their own observation had supplied them. My profession introduced me to
the friendship of Mrs. Wentworth, by whom, after the disappearance of
Welbeck, many circumstances respecting him had been mentioned. She
particularly dwelt upon the deportment and appearance of this youth, at
the single interview which took place between them, and her
representations were perfectly conformable to those which Mervyn had
himself delivered.

Previously to this interview, Welbeck had insinuated to her that a
recent event had put him in possession of the truth respecting the
destiny of Clavering. A kinsman of his had arrived from Portugal, by
whom this intelligence had been brought. He dexterously eluded her
entreaties to be furnished with minuter information, or to introduce
this kinsman to her acquaintance. As soon as Mervyn was ushered into her
presence, she suspected him to be the person to whom Welbeck had
alluded, and this suspicion his conversation had confirmed. She was at a