his consent as a very great condescension; and he had remarked that very night, that Laura’s father, even in the midst of his grief and anxiety, had made the Earl feel, by his whole tone and manner, that in the opinion of the Duke of Gaveston there was a vast distinction between himself and the Earl of Byerdale.  What chance was there, then, he asked himself, for one without any advantages, even were the happiest explanation to be given to the mystery of his own early history?

Thus passed the night, but before daylight on the following morning he was up and dressed; and, accompanied by the Messenger, he went down the river with two watermen; both of whom declared that they had seen the covered barge pass down at the very hour of Lady Laura’s disappearance, and had heard sounds as if from the voice of a person in distress.

We shall not follow Wilton minutely on his search, as not a little of our tale remains to be told.  Suffice it to say, that from Chelsea to Woolwich he made inquiries at every wharf and stairs, examined every boat in the least like that which had been seen, and spoke with every waterman whom he judged likely to give information; but all in vain.  At that time almost every nobleman and gentleman in London, as well as all merchants, who possessed any ready means of access to the Thames, had each a private stairs down to the river, with his barge, which was neither more nor less than a large covered boat, somewhat resembling a Venetian gondola, but much more roomy and comfortable.

Thus the inquiries of Wilton and the Messenger occupied a considerable space of time, and the day was far spent when they turned again at Woolwich, and began to row up the stream.  Wilton, on his part, felt inclined to land, and, hiring a horse, to proceed to the Duke’s house with greater rapidity—­but the Messenger shook his head, saying, “No, no, sir:  that wont do.  We must go through the same work all over again up the river.  There’s quite a different set of people at the water-side in the morning and in the evening.  We are much more likely to hear tidings this afternoon than we were in the early part of the day.”

Wilton saw the justice of the man’s remark, and acquiesced readily.  But he did so only to procure for himself, as it turned out, a bitter and painful addition to the apprehensions which already tormented him.  In passing London bridge, one of the heavy barges used in the conveyance of merchandise was seen moored at a little distance below the bridge, and in the neighbourhood of the fall.  A great number of men were in her, rolling up various ropes and grappling irons, while a personage dressed as one of the city officers appeared at their head.  Ile was directing them at the moment to unmoor the barge, and bring her to one of the wharfs again; but the boatmen of Wilton’s boat, without any orders, immediately rowed up to the barge, and the Messenger inquired what the officer and his comrades were about.