CHAPTER VIII.
MISSING.
On the 5th of July in the following year, Gilbert Fenton landed in England, after nearly ten months of exile.

He had found hard work to do in the colonial city, and had done it; surmounting every difficulty by a steady resolute course of action.
Astley Fenton had tried to shelter his frauds, heaping falsehood upon falsehood; and had ended by making a full confession, after receiving his cousin's promise not to prosecute.

The sums made away with by him amounted to some thousands.

Gilbert found that he had been leading a life of reckless extravagance, and was a notorious gambler.

So there came an evening when after a prolonged investigation of affairs, Astley Fenton put on his hat, and left his cousin's office for ever.