“You are right, you are right, Wilton,” replied the Earl.  “But leave it to me:  I myself will write to the Duke upon the subject, and doubt not shall find means to satisfy him, though I cannot flatter you, Wilton—­and I tell you so at once—­I cannot flatter you with the idea of any unexpected wealth.  Your blood is your only possession; but that is enough.  I will write myself in a few days.”

“I trust, my lord, you will not do so immediately,” replied Wilton.  “You were kind enough to promise me explanations regarding my birth.  Others have done so, too.” (The Earl started.) “Lord Sunbury,” continued Wilton, “promised me the same explanation, and to give me the papers which he possesses regarding me, even before the present period; but he returns in September or October, and then they will of course be mine.”

“Ha!” said the Earl, musing.  “Ha! does he?  But why does he not send you over the papers? he is no farther off than Paris now; for I know he obtained a passport the other day, and promised to look into the negotiations which are going on for peace.”

“I fancy, my lord,” replied Wilton, “that in the distracted state of both countries he fears to send over the papers by any ordinary messenger.”

“Oh, but from time to time there are council messengers,” replied the Earl.  “There is not a petit maitre in the whole land who does not contrive, notwithstanding the war, to get over his embroidery from France, nor any old lady to furnish herself with bon-bons.”

“I suppose he thinks, too,” replied Wilton, “that, as he is coming so soon, it is scarcely worth while, and, perhaps, the papers may need explanations from his own mouth.”

“Ah! but the papers, the papers, are the most important,” replied the Earl, thoughtfully.  “In September or October does he come?  Well, I will tell you all before that my self, Wilton.  I thought I should have been able to do it ere now; but there is one link in the chain incomplete, and before I say anything, it must be rendered perfect.  However, things are happening every day which no one anticipates; and though I do not expect the paper that I mentioned for a fortnight, it may come to-morrow, perhaps.”

About ten days after this period, Wilton, as he went to the house of the Earl of Byerdale, remarked all those external signs and symptoms of agitation amongst the people, which may always be seen more or less by an observing eye, when any event of importance takes place in a great city.  They were, perhaps, more apparent than usual on the present occasion; for in the short distance he had to go he saw two hawkers of halfpenny sheets bawling down unintelligible tidings to maids in the areas, and two or three groups gathered together in the sunshiny morning at the corners of the streets.

When he reached the Earl’s house, he found him more excited than he usually suffered himself to be, and holding up a letter, he exclaimed,—­