That night I placed the miniature in the hands of Williams, who
gave me twenty pounds for it, and the snuff-box I placed in the
ticking of Howard's bed.
Need I tell you all the catalogue of wrong? You can almost guess
the rest. Williams procured for me a suit of clothes which would
disguise me, and these were placed ready for me by arrangement with
him. The early morning was very cold, and as I intended to travel
far I thought I would take my great coat. In the hurry and
excitement of the moment, I mistook Howard's for mine.
I left my clothes upon the river bank, and that afternoon I set
sail for America.
In America I spent a few months, the remembrance of which I would
gladly blot from my memory. Money came to me fast from gambling,
and as quickly went. All the time I was restless, fearful, ill at
ease and sick at heart. I had never heard one single word of how my
disappearance might have afflicted those I left behind. I knew not
whether you really thought me dead, or whether my secret had oozed
out. At length I determined, with tears of penitence, to return, to
confess all, to purchase back the miniature from Williams with
money I had won.
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