Part 34 (2/2)
”Had he no old friends, or even acquaintances?”
”Well, that's e all asked ourselves, Sir; but at any rate, whether he had or not, they didn't turn up--that is, not in timan?”
”Yes, Sir”
”Was he a relative?”
”Oh no, Sir, only a lawyer's clerk; wanted to see about business I dare say Perhaps to collect a bill Let me see; the laho sent him was named Thornton”
”Thornton!” said Brandon, as the name sank into his soul
”Yes; he lived at Holby”
Brandon drew a long breath
”No, Sir; no friends came, whether he had any or not They were all sick at the alms-house for weeks”
”And I suppose they all died there?” said Brandon, in a strange, sweet voice
”No, Sir They were not so happy”
”What suffering could be greater?”
”They do talk dreadfully in this town, Sir; and I dare say it's not true, but if it is it's enough to make a man's blood ran cold”
”You excite s seeht your British aristocrats could not be ruined”
”Here was one, Sir, that was, anyhow”
”Go on”
”Well, Sir, the old ot well As soon as they ell enough they went away”
”How did they get away?”
”Potts helped them,” replied the tailor, in a peculiar tone ”They went away froo?”
”People say to Liverpool I only tell what I know I heard young Bill Potts, the old fellow's son, boasting one night at the inn where he was half drunk, how they had served the Brandons He said they wanted to leave the village, so his father helped them away to America”
”To America?”