--a restless, jerking, selfish expression--that made me
shrink from him. Joseph was proud of his acquisition, and, remembering
my caution, asked me what I thought of him. I well remember the reply
that leaped to my lips.

"'Didn't you say that he was religious?'

"'He professes to be,' said he.

"'I fear that it is only a cloak to his real character. If he is a
Christian, I do not know what grace has done for him; but if I do not
misread his face, he is constitutionally dishonest.'

"But every thing went on smoothly, and Joseph would say to me when we
met,--

"'My partner loves scandal a little too well--is apt to talk against
others; but one thing I'm sure of--he's honest.'

"One morning, some months after this conversation, I chanced to meet
Joseph as he was going to the office; he looked pale and careworn.

"'O,' said he, 'I have had the most singular exercise of mind. Some
folks are troubled with sleeplessness; but I never was until last
night. I went to bed feeling as well as usual, but could not sleep. I
was not unusually tired, had taken a light supper, and saw no reason
why I should be so wakeful. I turned and tossed in bed, and shut my
eyes; but all in vain. I even laid my finger on my wrist, that the
counting of my pulse might, by the monotony, induce slumber; when,
suddenly, before my mind's eye stood my partner; it seemed as real as
life; and with the appearance came little remarks of his, little acts
and words, which, as they ranged themselves along like the links in a
chain, revealed him to me, against my will, as a deceiver and a
dishonest man.'

"He was much excited, and hurried to town. Mr. Jacques, as I
afterwards learned, was there before him, and met him with his bland
smile and well-turned compliments; and, strange as it may seem,
scarcely an hour had passed before he had charmed away every shadow of
suspicion. Matters now went on as before for a few weeks, when Joseph
had another sleepless night, and a more convincing unfolding of his
partner's real character; and the next night, after the office had
been closed, he spent in examining the books of the concern, and
detected a number of artfully-contrived fraudulent entries in the
handwriting of his partner, for, according to agreement, the latter
kept the accounts. Further revelations showed that he had been
gradually abstracting the stock. As soon as Mr. Jacques saw that he
was being found out, his gentleness and politeness were all gone,