light was thrown upon his character; unless something were deducible
from the charge vaguely made, that his wealth was the fruit of illicit
practices. He was opulent, and the sources of his wealth were unknown,
if not to the rest of the community, at least to Thetford. But here had
a plot been laid. The fortune of Thetford's brother was to rise from the
success of artifices of which the credulity of Welbeck was to be the
victim. To detect and to counterwork this plot was obviously my duty. My
interference might now indeed be too late to be useful; but this was at
least to be ascertained by experiment.

How should my intention be effected? I had hitherto concealed from
Welbeck my adventures at Thetford's house. These it was now necessary to
disclose, and to mention the recent occurrence. My deductions, in
consequence of my ignorance, might be erroneous; but of their truth his
knowledge of his own affairs would enable him to judge. It was possible
that Thetford and he whose chamber conversation I had overheard were
different persons. I endeavoured in vain to ascertain their identity by
a comparison of their voices. The words lately heard, my remembrance
did not enable me certainly to pronounce to be uttered by the same
organs.

This uncertainty was of little moment. It sufficed that Welbeck was
designated by this appellation, and that therefore he was proved to be
the subject of some fraudulent proceeding. The information that I
possessed it was my duty to communicate as expeditiously as possible. I
was resolved to employ the first opportunity that offered for this end.

My meditations had been ardently pursued, and, when I recalled my
attention, I found myself bewildered among fields and fences. It was
late before I extricated myself from unknown paths, and reached home.