mother? You don't! I told you that you should go to Blackheath

first and Norwood afterwards. Well, this injury, as he would

consider it, has rankled in his wicked, scheming brain, and all

his life he has longed for vengeance, but never seen his chance.

During the last year or two things have gone against him --

secret speculation, I think -- and he finds himself in a bad way.

He determines to swindle his creditors, and for this purpose he

pays large cheques to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who is, I imagine,

himself under another name. I have not traced these cheques yet,

but I have no doubt that they were banked under that name at some

provincial town where Oldacre from time to time led a double

existence. He intended to change his name altogether, draw this

money, and vanish, starting life again elsewhere."

"Well, that's likely enough."

"It would strike him that in disappearing he might throw all

pursuit off his track, and at the same time have an ample and

crushing revenge upon his old sweetheart, if he could give the

05.06.2007