"I think you can," said Mr. Ranson. "You do not intend to run away, I believe."
"Not much," I laughed. "My running away days are over. This has turned out very well, but I don"t want to try any more."
Presently the government officer came up.
"Of course you can go ash.o.r.e, and do as you please. Only be on hand at the examination, for you both will be needed as witnesses."
It was not long before the small boat was launched, and quite a party entered. We soon reached the wharf, and in a body proceeded to one of the court buildings, where Mr. Henshaw left us sitting in one of the lower rooms.
He was gone full half an hour.
"Come this way, please," he said on his return, and led the way to an apartment on the second floor.
"Here are the persons, Judge," he said, presenting us to an elderly gentleman sitting in a big chair.
"I know Mr. Ranson very well," was the judge"s reply. "Sit down, I wish to ask you a number of questions."
So we all sat down. I was the first witness, and all I had to say was carefully noted. Then Phil Jones and Mr. Ranson followed; and after an hour or more, the judge said he was satisfied.
"I wish all of you to appear here to-morrow morning at ten o"clock," he said, as he dismissed us. "I will not bind any of you over, but will trust to your honor to do as I wish."
This was satisfactory to all hands, and we left. Out on the street Mr.
Ranson told Phil to come with him and he would see what he could do for him.
"You can come too, Foster, if you wish," he added.
"I think I would prefer to take a walk around the city," I replied. "It is all new and strange to me."
"Do just as you think best."
Before we separated the lawyer handed me two five-dollar bills. He would have given me a larger amount, but I did not wish it.
"Don"t get lost," was his final remark.
"I"ll try not to," I replied.
I did not know one street from another, but walked up and down. To me all seemed quite different from New York, and the time went by swiftly.
About the middle of the afternoon I took the cars out to Bunker Hill monument and surrounding places of interest.
I returned at supper time. Mr. Ranson had given me directions for reaching the Ridgerow House, and I found no difficulty in doing so.
I met him in the hall.
"Ah, here you are," he exclaimed. "Come up to the room and get into shape for supper."
He led the way to an elegant room on the second floor.
I was surprised at the sumptuousness of the apartment, and did not hesitate to say so.
"It is nice," he returned. "Certainly far better than my quarters were at Port Jefferson."
"By the way, won"t the people be alarmed for your safety?" I asked.
"I have already telegraphed to them."
I washed up and combed my hair. My clothes were none of the best, but they were the best I had, and Mr. Ranson told me I could get another suit the first thing in the morning.
Supper at the hotel was an elegant affair, and both of us did full justice to it.
During the meal I asked what he had done with Phil.
"I have secured him a position in an office down on the wharves,"
replied the lawyer. "The work just suits him, and the pay, six dollars a week, is, I think, very good to start on. He has written to his aunt telling her to come down upon my invitation. As soon as she arrives I will fix the matter up so that there will be no trouble."
"I think Captain Hannock has some money belonging to him."
"So Philip tells me. I shall bring him to a strict accounting, and make him pay over every penny if he has it."
"I am anxious to get back to New York," I said. "Now I have decided on what to do I am impatient to begin."
"I guess you will be able to start by to-morrow noon. I will try to arrange it with Judge Boyden, so there will be no trouble. But I am sorry I shall not be able to go with you."
"No?" I repeated, in considerable dismay, for I had counted on the lawyer accompanying me.
"Business will keep me in Boston for a week or more. But I have already written to Mr. Ira Mason to take your case in charge."
"Mr. Mason!" I exclaimed.
"Yes. You said you knew him, and he is as good a lawyer as I could get.
What do you think of it?"
"I like it very much," I replied.
"I thought you would. I told Mr. Mason to spare no expense to clear you and also to have the subject of your uncle"s guardianship investigated.
I know he will do what I asked."
"I am sure he will."
"If you wish to follow my advice write at once to this Mr. Banker, whom this Harvey Nottington of London says was to be your guardian. With what you now know perhaps he may be able to throw some light on the subject."
"I will do so at once," I replied.
As soon as the meal was finished I sat down in the reading-room, and wrote a long letter to Mr. Banker, telling him all that happened, and what a villain I had found Mr. Stillwell to be. I also said that I expected to be in New York the following evening and wished very much he would meet me. I likewise quoted the letter from London, and asked why my father"s wish had not been carried out.
"That will do first-rate," said Mr. Ranson, when I showed it to him.
"I think I will take a walk out and post it," I said, for to write the letters had taken over an hour and a half, and I felt somewhat cramped from the work.
"All right. You will find me in the room when you return. Remember it is number 67."