A man cannot even throw himself overboard without being missed.

I know nothing of his whereabouts,-- nothing at all.

But I must say that his absence is a relief to me.
The only comfort left to me in this world is in your presence, and in those material good things which I am still able to enjoy." This assertion as to his ignorance about his eldest son the squire repeated again and again to his chosen heir, feeling it was only probable that Augustus might participate in the belief which he knew to be only too common.

There was, no doubt, an idea prevalent that the squire and the captain were in league together to cheat the creditors, and that the squire, who in these days received much undeserved credit for Machiavellian astuteness, knew more than any one else respecting his eldest son's affairs.

But, in truth, he at first knew nothing, and in making these assurances to his younger son was altogether wasting his breath, for his younger son knew everything..