“A confession, Uncle Philip?” repeated Frank. 

 “Yes. I had rather you heard the truth from me, than to get a garbled account from some one else, as you are sure to do sooner or later. Boys, I am likely to be taken away at any moment by the authorities!” 

 “Uncle Philip!” 

 “Oh, don’t look so alarmed,” and he smiled at their blank faces. “It isn’t for anything disgraceful, nor on a criminal charge.” 

 “But what other charge can they arrest you on?” Frank demanded. 

 “On a political charge.” 

 “They don’t do such things in this country!” cried Ned. 

 “The charge doesn’t come from this country, boys. Sit down and I’ll tell you as much of it as you need to know.” 

17CHAPTER III—UNDER ARREST

17

 Mr. Arden ceased his pacing up and down the library, and taking up a bundle of papers from a table—papers that seemed fairly to bristle with red seals—he sat down in an easy chair. But he was anything but at ease himself. 

 “Boys,” he began, while Ned and Frank wondered what was in store for them, “there is no need of going into too many details, or in saying I am sorry for what has happened. I am more sorry than I can ever tell you, for it looks as though I had betrayed the trust my dead brother left to me—the trust of bringing up you boys as he would have done himself had he lived.” As he spoke tears came into Mr. Arden’s eyes. 

 “Don’t worry,” said Ned, warmly. “Whatever you have done, Uncle Phil, we know it was done with the best intentions.” 

 “That’s right!” chimed in Frank. 

 “Well, it’s good to hear you say that, for others 18 might judge me more harshly,” went on the importer. “And I really acted from the best motives and for your interests. I may have made a mistake—I don’t claim to be infallible—but I intended no wrong. 

18

 “And now, boys, for the worst of it. It may happen that at any moment your fortunes, as well as 

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