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myself down -- yes, I did it myself. It's right I should suffer -- perfectly right -- I

don't make any moan." ssssssssss

"Brought you down from whar? Whar was you brought down from?"

"Ah, you would not believe me; the world never believes -- let it pass 'tis

no matter. The secret of my ssssssssss

birth"

"The secret of your birth?

Do you mean to say" ssssssssss

"Gentlemen," says the young

man, very solemn, "I will reveal ssssssssss

it to you, for I feel I may have ssssssssss

confidence in you. By rights I ssssssssss

am a duke!" ssssssssss

Jim's eyes bugged out when

he heard that; and I reckon ssssssssss

mine did, too. Then the bald- ssssssssss

head says: "No! you can't ssssssssss

mean it?" ssssssssss

"Yes. My great-grandfather,

eldest son of the Duke of Bridge- ssssssssss

water, fled to this country about ssssssssss

the end of the last century, to ssssssssss

breathe the pure air of freedom; ssssssssss

married here, and died, leaving a ssssssssss

son, his own father dying about the same time. The second son of the late duke

seized the title and estates -- the infant real duke was ignored. I am the lineal

descendant of that infant -- I am the rightful Duke of Bridgewater; and here am

I, forlorn, torn from my high estate, hunted of men, despised by the cold world,

ragged, worn, heart-broken, and degraded to the companionship of felons on

a raft!" ssssssssss

Jim pitied him ever so much, and so did I. We tried to comfort him, but he

said it warn't much use, he couldn't be much comforted; said if we was a mind to

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