and said, "You will not mention anything concerning M. de Tourville's
intercepted papers to Mr. Drakelow, or to any other person. Affairs call me
to town immediately: to-morrow morning at six, I set off. You will, if you
please, sir, be ready to accompany me. I will not detain you longer from
any preparations you may have to make for your journey."

No sooner had the father and son quitted Lord Oldborough's presence than
Mr. Falconer exclaimed with exultation, "I long to see our good cousin
Percy, that I may tell him how I have provided already for one of my sons."

"But remember, sir," said Cunningham, "that Mr. Percy is to know nothing of
the Tourville packet."

"To be sure not," said Mr. Falconer; "he is to know nothing of the means,
he is to see only the end--the successful end. Ha! cousin Percy, I think we
know rather better than you do how to make something of every thing--even
of a shipwreck."

"To prevent his having any suspicions," continued Cunningham, "it will be
best to give Mr. Percy some probable reason for Lord Oldborough's _taking
to us_ so suddenly. It will be well to hint that you have opportunities of
obliging about the borough, or about the address at the county-meeting,
or--"

"No, no; no particulars; never go to particulars," said old Falconer:
"stick to generals, and you are safe. Say, in general, that I had an
opportunity of obliging government. Percy is not curious, especially about
_jobbing_. He will ask no questions; or, if he should, I can easily put him
upon a wrong scent. Now, Cunningham, listen to me: I have done my best, and
have pushed you into a fine situation: but remember, you cannot get on in