If my speaking should offend you, sir, my dealing, I hope, will make amends.' Mr Witherden seemed a little disconcerted by the elderly gentleman's mode of conducting the dialogue; and as for Kit, he looked at him in open-mouthed astonishment: wondering what kind of language he would address to him, if he talked in that free and easy way to a Notary.

It was with no harshness, however, though with something of constitutional irritability and haste, that he turned to Kit and said: 'If you think, my lad, that I am pursuing these inquiries with any other view than that of serving and reclaiming those I am in search of, you do me a very great wrong, and deceive yourself.

Don't be deceived, I beg of you, but rely upon my assurance.

The fact is, gentlemen,' he added, turning again to the Notary and his pupil, 'that I am in a very painful and wholly unexpected position.

I came to this city with a darling object at my heart, expecting to find no obstacle or difficulty in the way of its attainment.