Page:Australian Emigrant 1854.djvu/80

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62
THE AUSTRALIAN EMIGRANT.

letters now received, it appeared that this Jarroll had been detected in forging a will, and had been actually committed to take his trial for the crime. The evidence was said to be quite clear against him: and now came the part of the news which principally affected Hugh. For some months before the discovery of the "honest" lawyer's villany, Miss Leslie had been subjected to the persecutions of his son, and on complaining, was rather blamed than otherwise for not receiving his addresses. This made her most unhappy, and immediately on receiving intelligence of the suspicion which attached to her guardian, she sought and received the protection of old Mr. Raymond, with whom, so ran the letters, "she would reside for the present." Such was the state of matters in England according to Hugh's first advices. The next mail which arrived, contained a circumstantial account of Jarroll's trial, conviction, and sentence to transportation for life.

The deeds of Amy Leslie's property were not to be found, nor would he give any account of them. Upon this subject as well as all others he preserved a dogged silence.




CHAPTER VI.


Some months afterwards, business in Melbourne proving dull, the two partners determined to purchase cattle and to go in search of a convenient station on which to run them. As the Westernport district had not been much explored at that time, they decided to proceed there. Accordingly an offer was made to the native Benbo to accompany them, the great induce-