"Your attitude is as good as what you have done, and I am convinced that you have not forgotten it, but have always been obsessed with it," replied Mr. Rowe, "and I speak fifteen years ago, when you were only eleven years old, and your father was thirty-one—I repeat, he was a child when he was married at his father's command. Do you want me to revisit the things that have cast a shadow over your father's reputation, or do you tell me the truth yourself, without me saying it? ”

"I have nothing to say," replied Old Meng, "as long as you want, just say yours." ”

"At that time, among the new friends," said Mr. Law, "there was one of your mother's elder brothers, whose wife had died about six months earlier, leaving behind two children—a few more in the early days, but fortunately there were only two, both daughters, a girl of nineteen years of age, and a little girl of three or two years old. ”

"What does this have to do with me?" Lao Meng asked.

"They live in the country," Mr. Luo didn't seem to hear the interjection, "your father fell in love with a maid one day."

The old gentleman paused, and when he saw Meng Kesi biting his lip and staring at the floor, he immediately went down and said: "At the end of the year, he made a marriage contract with that maid, and he made a marriage contract, and won the heart of that pure and flawless girl. ”

"Your story is really long enough, isn't it just a woman?" Lao Meng tossed irritably in the chair and said.

"This true story is full of suffering and misfortune, young man," Mr. Law replied, "and this is usually the case. If it's a simple happy story, it's short. Later, the maid tried to kill your father, but without success. He fled to the mountains and defected to the bandits. Then, your uncle was at your house, took a fancy to one of your father's aunts, and insulted her one night. Then, your father plotted to kill your uncle. The bandits led their troops and ransacked your uncle's house. Your father fought the bandits for another three years, and finally killed them all, and then he himself disappeared. As soon as the news reached Xiao Wangzhuang, your mother took you with her, and on the day she arrived, she left no will—no will—and all your property fell into the hands of your mother and son. ”

At this point in the story, Lao Meng held his breath and listened attentively, even though his eyes were not directly facing the person speaking. Mr. Luo stopped talking, Lao Meng changed his posture, wiped his hot face and hands, and suddenly felt relieved.

"He's been to Conch City before," Mr. Luo said slowly, staring intently at the other man's face, "He's been looking for me." ”

"I haven't heard of that." Lao Meng interjected, and in his tone he wanted to say that this was not credible, but on the contrary, it showed that he felt more of an unpleasant surprise.

"He came to me and left behind a few things, among which was a portrait of the poor girl, which he did not want to leave at home, but was in a hurry and could not take it with him. Under anxiety and remorse, he was so thin that he was skinny. He was unsettled and incoherent, and spoke of the calamity and disgrace he had inflicted, and confided to me that he would do whatever it took to shine on him. Even to me, he did not pour out his heart further, but only promised to write a letter, telling me everything, and saying that he would come to see me afterwards as the last time in life. That in itself was the last. I didn't receive the letter and never saw him again. ”

"When it was all over," said Mr. Law, after a slight pause, "I went to the place where he had settled that sinful debt—I may use the common parlance of the world, for the harshness or generosity of the world is no different to him—and I have made up my mind that if my fears become true, I will let the girl who had lost for a time find a home to live in, and a heart that could sympathize with her. ”

Lao Meng breathed a sigh of relief more and more, and glanced back with a triumphant smile.

"Your brother," said Mr. Law, moving his chair a little closer to the other, "your brother, a thin, ragged, and despised child, was pushed to me by a hand stronger than chance, and I saved him from a life of sin and shame.

"What?" Lao Meng shouted.

"I rescued him," said Mr. Rowe, "I didn't say that I would soon pique your interest." Yes, I rescued him—I know that your cunning accomplice has concealed my name, even though he doesn't care who you hear or not. He was rescued by me and lived in my house to recuperate, and I was amazed by his resemblance to the girl in the painting I had talked about earlier. Even when I first met him, despite his dirt and pitiful appearance, there was an expression on his face that seemed to me to suddenly find an old friend in a vivid dream. I don't need to tell you that before I could find out where he came from, he was abducted and run—

"Why don't you say it?" Lao Meng hurriedly asked.

"Because you know it."

"Me"

"It is useless to deny it in person," replied Mr. Law, "and I will show you that I know more than that." ”

"Y-you-can't prove anything against me," Meng stammered, "I don't think you're that good." ”

"We'll see," replied the old gentleman, who looked at him sharply, "I have lost that child, and despite all my efforts, I have not been able to find him." Your mother is dead, and I know that only you can solve this mystery, and you alone. The last time I heard from you, you were in your own territory. Your subordinates will not know where you live. They say that you come and go, as mysteriously as ever—sometimes for days, sometimes for months—and still seem to be haunting those nasty places, mingling with the shameless fellows, with whom you have been in a fiery fight since you were a lawless child. I asked them again and again, and even they were annoyed. I walked up and down the streets day and night, but until two hours ago, all my efforts were fruitless, and I never saw you once. ”

"You really see me now," Old Meng stood up boldly, "so what? Fraud and robbery are well-known crimes – you think, by your imagination, that a ghost looks a little like a dead man's boring scribbles on some drawing can prove it? I have a younger brother. You can't even figure out if the couple has had a baby, you can't figure it out at all. ”

"I really didn't know in the past," Mr. Luo also stood up and said, "but in the past half month, I have inquired about everything clearly." You have a younger brother. You know it, and you know him. The will was also there, but it was destroyed by your mother, and when she died, she left you the secret and the benefits she had obtained. The will mentions a child who may be the product of this sad union, and that child is born later, and you are inadvertently bumped into again, and the first thing that arouses your suspicion is that he looks a lot like his father. You've ruined the evidence, and we're going to use what you said to the old camel you were with. The few pieces of evidence that could identify the child had fallen to the bottom of the river, and the old witch who had gotten it from his mother was rotting in the coffin. 'Unscrupulous son, coward, liar—you, in the dark of night, plotted in a secret room with a band of thieves and murderers—you, your intrigues that killed a girl a million times better than you—you, who have broken the heart of your natural father since childhood, and whose evil thoughts, iniquities, and lusts, all festered in you, until they found a terrible pathology that turned your face into a microcosm of your soul—You, how dare you stand up to me? ”

"No, no, no!" The coward said in a loud voice, and he was finally overwhelmed by the accusations of the other party one by one.

"Every word!" The old gentleman scolded, "I know everything you say to that damn scoundrel. The shadows on the wall heard your whispers and brought your words to my ears. Seeing the child being mistreated awakened even a depraved girl and gave her courage and character that bordered on virtue. The murder has already taken place, and even if you are not in fact complicit, you are morally impunishable. ”

"No, no," Lao Meng hurriedly denied, "that—I don't know anything about that." I was about to find out what was going on, and you arrested me. I don't know the cause, but it was an ordinary quarrel. ”

"This is only part of your secret," replied Mr. Law, "will you tell it all?" ”

"Yes, I do."

"Would you rather write a confession stating the truth and read it in front of the witnesses?"

"I promise that."

"How about you stay here honestly, and when the transcript is ready, come with me to the place where I think it is most appropriate to have it notarized?"

"If you have to do that, I'll do it." Lao Meng replied.

"You have to do more than that," said Mr. Law, "you have to make amends to a child who has no quarrel with the world but who has been innocently victimized, even though he is the product of a debt." You have not forgotten the terms of the will. You have to put the terms about your brother into practice, and then you can go wherever you like. You don't have to see each other again in this world. ”

Old Meng paced back and forth, his expression gloomy and treacherous, he was considering this proposal, and he wanted to see if he could find another way out, he was caught between fear and hatred. The door was hurriedly opened, and Mr. Qian walked into the room excitedly.

"That man is about to be arrested," he cried, "and he's going to be arrested tonight." ”

"Is that the murderer?" Mr. Luo asked.

"Yes, yes," replied the doctor, "his dog was seen circling around one of the dens, and it seemed needless to suspect that the dog's owner was either already there, or was planning to go there while it was dark." The agent had watched in all directions. I spoke to the people who were ordered to arrest him, and they told me that he couldn't escape. The government has already given a reward of 100 oceans this evening. ”

"What about the old camel, how is he?" Mr. Luo said.

"I just heard that he hadn't caught it yet, but he couldn't run away, maybe he had caught it by this time. They were sure they would deal with him. ”

"Have you made up your mind?" Mr. Luo asked Lao Meng in a low voice.

"It's decided," he replied. "Y-you-can you keep it a secret for me?"

"I'm going to keep it a secret. You stay here and wait for me to come back. That's the only hope you have to be safe. ”

They left the room, and the door was locked again.