"As for the oath," said he, musingly, "it would be a sin to keep it, now
that to break it can do him no harm, and may do him good, especially as,
in case of imprisonment or death, the oath is not held to be binding; yet
I fear it is too late for the reward. The father will scarcely thank you
for finding his son!---Know, Dummie, that Paul is in jail, and that he
is one and the same person as Captain Lovett!" Astonishment never wrote
in more legible characters than she now displayed on the rough features
of Dummie Dunnaker. So strong are the sympathies of a profession
compared with all others, that Dummie's first confused thought was that
of pride. "The great Captain Lovett!" he faltered.

"Little Paul at the top of the profession! Lord, Lord! I always said as
how he'd the hambition to rise!"

"Well, well, but the father's name?"

At this question the expression of Dummie's face fell; a sudden horror
struggled to his eyes--




CHAPTER XXXV.

Why is it that at moments there creeps over us an awe, a terror,
overpowering but undefined? Why is it that we shudder without a
cause, and feel the warm life-blood stand still in its courses?
Are the dead too near?
FALKLAND