A CHANGE IN THE STATE OF AFFAIRS. 381 



with Monkton, drove directly to Islington, where they found 

 Mrs. Douglas at home. Leaving Monkton below, they were 

 ushered into her sitting-room, when Beauchamp thus addressed 

 her — 



" Your name is Douglas, I presume, madam ? " 



" Yes, sir, it is." 



"You have set up a claim, I believe, to the property of 

 Miss Douglas in Scotland, on behalf of a young man you call 

 your son ? " 



" He is my son, sir, and I'll swear it — born in lawful wed- 

 lock ; and Miss Douglas will soon be bundled out of her ill- 

 gotten estates." 



"You audacious woman!" exclaimed Beauchamp, in just 

 indignation ; " your plot is discovered, and this young scamp 

 you would perjure yourself to prove your son, is now in custody, 

 and his father in this house — call Mr. Monkton up, Malcolm." 

 The lady sat in speechless horror at this sudden announcement ; 

 and when her brother entered the room, fell back senseless in 

 her chair. Restoratives being promptly applied, she soon re- 

 covered ; but "a change came over the spirit of her dream " 

 on her brother saying her trick was found out, and that she 

 must now expect to go to prison for it, as Dick had confessed 

 all. Tears and entreaties were now substituted for boasts and 

 threats, and appeals for mercy to Beauchamp, on account of her 

 children, who would be thrown almost penniless on the world. 



" Indeed, indeed, sir," she cried, " Mr. Douglas had very little 

 to leave me when he died; and I have scarcely Sufficient to 

 support them and myself." 



"The children of Mr. Douglas, although illegitimate," 

 replied Beauchamp, " shall not want a friend ; neither shall you 

 be left destitute — on one condition — that you make a full con- 

 fession of the part you have taken in this business." 



" Do it, Susan," whispered her brother, " 'tis your only 

 chance ; and trust to his lordship's generosity." 



" I will make no terms with your sister, Mr. Monkton," 

 added Beauchamp, "no promises of any kind ; but will leave you 

 with her alone for a few minutes, to decide how to act." 



In a quarter of an hour Monkton came down to say his sister 

 was ready to accompany them and make her declaration before 

 a magistrate that she had no children born after her marriage 

 with Mr. Douglas. They then returned to Forrester's and all 

 the party concerned and implicated went before a magistrate, when 

 their voluntary statements and depositions were written down 



