Next Door Neighbours Part 13

BLUNTLY.

I have heard necessity has no law--but if it has no conscience, it is a much worse thing than I took it for.--No matter for that--come along.--Oh my poor master!--I would even tell a _lie_ to save him.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE II. _A lawyer's study._

MR. MANLY _discovered at his writing-desk--a Servant attending_.

MANLY.

Who do you say wants to speak with me?

SERVANT.

Mr. Lucre, sir.

MANLY.

And who else?

SERVANT.

A person who says his name is Willford, he looks as if he came from the country, and seems in mean circ.u.mstances.

MANLY.

Show him to me directly. And take Mr. Lucre, or any other person of fas.h.i.+on that may call, to my clerks. [_Exit Servant._] But for the poor, let them be under _my_ protection.

_Enter_ WILLFORD _and_ ELEANOR.

MANLY.

Come in--walk in, and let me know what I can do to serve you.

WILLFORD.

I deposited, sir, in your clerk's hands, a sum of money to set me free from confinement for debt.--On his word, I was discharged--he owns he has not yet paid away this money, still he refuses to restore it to me, though in return I again render up my person.

MANLY.

And why would you do this?

WILLFORD.

Because my honour--I mean my conscience--for that's the poor man's honour--is concerned.

MANLY.

Explain yourself.

WILLFORD.

A son of mine, received this sum I speak of, and thought it _given_ him; while it was only meant as a purchase--a purchase of what we had no right to sell--and therefore it must be restored to the owner.

MANLY.

And who is he?

WILLFORD.

Sir George Splendorville--I suppose you have heard of him?

MANLY.

He, you mean, who by the desire of his father's will, lately changed his name from Blandford?

WILLFORD.

Sir!

MANLY.

The name, which some part of the family, while reduced, had taken.

WILLFORD.

Good Heaven! Is there such a circ.u.mstance in his story?

MANLY.

Why do you ask with such emotion?

WILLFORD.

Because he is the man, in search of whom I left my habitation in the country, to present before him a dest.i.tute young woman, a near relation.

MANLY.

What relation?--Be particular in your answer.

WILLFORD.

A sister.

MANLY.

I thank you for your intelligence. You have named a person who for these three years past, I have in vain endeavoured to find.--But did you say she was in poverty?

WILLFORD.

I did.

MANLY.

I give you joy then--for I have in my possession a deed which conveys to a lost daughter of Sir George's father, the other half of the fortune he bequeathed his son--but as yet, all my endeavours have been in vain to find where she, and an uncle, to whose care she was entrusted in her infancy, are retired.

WILLFORD. [_Turning to_ ELEANOR.

Now, Eleanor, arm yourself with fort.i.tude--with fort.i.tude to bear not the frowns, but the smiles of fortune. Be humble, collected, and the same you have ever been, while I for the first time inform you--you are not my daughter.--And from this gentleman's intelligence add, you are rich--you are the deceased Blandford's child, and Splendorville's sister.

ELEANOR.

Oh! Heavens! Do I lose a father such as you, to gain a brother such as he is?

MANLY. [_To_ WILLFORD.

There can be no mistake on this occasion--And you, if I am not deceived, are the brother of the late Mr. Blandford. Your looks, your person, your very voice confirms it.

WILLFORD.

I have writings in my care, shall prove it beyond a doubt; with the whole narrative of our separation when he with his son, then a youth, embarked for India; where I suppose, riches, soon succeeded poverty.

_Enter_ SERVANT.

SERVANT.