Hoping that Peppo would join his companions and
return with them, the good Father waited, but in vain. He neither came
with the boys, nor later by himself.
On the following morning Father Somazzo received a visit from Mr.
Black, the lawyer, whom he had consulted concerning the guardianship of
Willy. He came to report that he believed he had sufficient proof to
ask the court to take Willy away from John Brown, and also to cause his
imprisonment. He had through agents sought out the sailors dismissed
from the "St. George", and from them not only learned of the life of
John Brown in Dublin, but also of the peculiar circumstances attendant
upon his brother's death at sea. Mr. Black asked whether he should
prosecute, adding: "Whatever is done, must be done quickly, for I am
told that the 'St. George' will sail to-morrow morning, or the morning
after at the latest, for Australia with three hundred Chinaman on
board."
Father Somazzo signed the necessary papers, then told of little Peppo's
disappearance, and his conjecture that he had been carried off by a
Chinaman named Lihoa, who claimed to be a relative.
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