I have heard my uncle say, often, that the young gentleman must be descended from an old servant of his father's, who was transported for stealing silver out of a shop on Ludgate Hill, and who was arrested for passing himself off, as one of the Wychecombe family.

They tell me, Sir Gervaise, that the colonies are pretty much made of persons descended from that sort of ancestors ?" "I cannot say that I have found it so; though, when I commanded a frigate, I served several years on the North American station.

The larger portion of the Americans, like much the larger portion of the English, are humble labourers, established in a remote colony, where civilization is not far advanced, wants are many, and means few; but, in the way of character, I am not certain that they are not quite on a level with those they left behind them; and, as to the gentry of the colonies, I have seen many men of the best blood of the mother country among them;--younger sons, and their descendants, as a matter of course, but of an honourable and respected ancestry." "Well, sir, this surprises me; and it is not the general opinion, I am persuaded! Certainly, it is not the fact as respects the gentleman--stranger, I might call him, for stranger he is at Wychecombe--who has not the least right to pretend to belong to us." "Did you ever know him to lay claim to that honour, sir ?" "Not directly, Sir Gervaise; though I am told he has made many hints to that effect, since he landed here to be cured of his wound.

It would have been better had he presented his rights to the landlord, than to present them to the tenants, I think you will allow, as a man of honour, yourself, Sir Gervaise ?" "I can approve of nothing clandestine in matters that require open and fair dealing, Mr.Thomas Wychecombe.

But I ought to apologize for thus dwelling on your family affairs, which concern me only as I feel an interest in the wishes and happiness of my new acquaintance, my excellent host." "Sir Wycherly has property in the funds that is not entailed--quite L1000 a year, beyond the estates--and I know he has left a will," continued Tom; who, with the short-sightedness of a rogue, flattered himself with having made a favourable impression on his companion, and who was desirous of making him useful to himself, in an emergency that he felt satisfied must terminate in the speedy death of his uncle.