might lead to their leooveiy, hia lefiinl to 
80, ought not to prevent an immediate arrangement, at least in so u 
AS pecuniary matters are concerned ; but feeling as I do, quite con- 
vinced that he is utterly unable to do so, I cannot see why you should 
hesitate for a moment." 

^^ Well, my friend, if I give him an undertaking to annoy him, as he 
terms it, no more, it must be with this proviso, that if I should at any 
time discover that he absolutely does know where they are to be 
found, I am not to be precluded from demanding of him such infor- 
mation as may be essential to their being restored." 

" Most decidedly. You vnll still have the right to do so. I look at 
the  of this arrangement. You agree to it on the assumption that he 
does not know where the children are : should you at any time dis- 
cover that he doeiy your right, with reference to them will, of course, 
stand the same as if no such arrangement had been made." 

^* Very well. Let this be, on all hands, distinctly understood, and 
I am ready to sign the undertaking." 

Uncle John now opened his dedt, and they began to draw out an