Part 36 (1/2)
”That's just what I was co to Sir John!” Brandon drew his chair nearer, apparently in deep excitement, and in a more nasal tone than ever, with a confidential air, he went on:
”You see, Ibefore hiht in my very teeth, and I watched hi about hiuard, and always told the same story This is what he tells: He says that his father was Ralph Brandon of Brandon Hall, Devonshi+re, and that he got very poor--he was ruined, in fact, by--I beg your pardon, Sir John, but he says it was you, and that you drove the faot to Cincinnati The old man, he says, died before they left, but he won't tell what became of the others I confess I believed it was all a lie, and didn't think there was any such place as Brandon Hall, so I deterh, Sir John, when two millions were at stake”
Potts winked
”Well, I suddenly foundway, and had to come to Europe
You see what a delicate creature I alee
”And I ca to find it I heard at last that there was a place that used to be Brandon Hall, thoughman, I'll catch you; for I'll call on Sir John hiht, Sir,” said Potts, who had taken an intense interest in this narrative ”I'ht to have come to I can tell you all you want This Brandon is a ive me that, Sir John, over your own nareat apparent exciteood dealdevil said as to how he got to Cincinnati? How did he find his way there?”
”He would never tell”
”What became of his mother and sister?”
”He wouldn't say”
”All I know,” said Potts, ”is this I got official information that they all died at Quebec”
Brandon looked suddenly at the floor and gasped In a moment he had recovered
”Curse him! then this fellow is an impostor?”
”No,” said Potts, ”he must have escaped It's possible There was some confusion at Quebec about names”
”Then his name may really be Frank Brandon?”
”It ht”
”Are what?”
”All right; dead you know That's why he don't like to tell you about them”
”Well, now, Sir John, could you tellman, since you think he must be the same one?”
”I know he must be, and I'll tell you all about him and the whole cursed lot In the first place,” continued Potts, clearing his throat, ”old Brandon was one of the cursedest old fools that ever lived He was very well off but wanted to get richer, and so he speculated in a tin mine in Cornwall I was acquainted with him at the time and used to respect him
He persuaded me--I was always off-handed about money, and a careless, easy fellow--he persuaded me to invest in it also I did so, but at the end of a few years I found out that the tin h price, for people believed it was a splendid property After this I found another mine and made money hand over fist I warned old Brandon, and so did every body, but he didn't care a fig for e said, and finally, one fine , he waked up and found himself ruined
”He was more utterly ruined than any man I ever knew of, and all his estates were sold I had made some money, few others in the county had any ready cash, the sale was forced, and I bought the whole establishot old Brandy--Brandy was a nicknae, and supported hireat lubberly boy I soon found out what vipers they were They all turned against their benefactor, and dared to say that I had ruined their father In fact, e to old Brandy rather than an injury It shows, though, what huot sick at last, and as they had no one to nurse them, I very considerately sent theood attendance, and plenty to eat and drink No matter what I did for the them to a comfortable hoo and visit him two or three tiet awfully profane, that's a fact The reason was his infernal pride Look at me, now! I'm not proud Put me in the alms-house, and would I curse you? I hope not