ot."

"I think you do when it is for your interest to do so, or when you can't
help it," added the good nabob, candidly. "I suppose you know Mr. Laud
Cavendish, captain?"

"I do," growled the rich culprit. "He is the fellow that saved a man's
life down at Haddock Ledge; a man he hadn't been introduced to, who gave
him a pile of money for the job, but didn't give him his name."

"But, Captain Shivernock, you said you gave him some money, and you
didn't tell us what you gave it to him for," added Beardsley.

"That was my joke."

"We do not see the point of it."

"I only wanted the privilege of proving to Captain Patterdale that he
was mistaken about the bill, by showing him three more just like it."

"How do you fold your money, Captain Shivernock?" asked the nabob.

"None of your business, you canting psalm-singer."

"I shall be obliged to commit you," said the sheriff, sharply.

"Commit me!" howled the wicked nabob. "I should like to see you do it."

"You shall have that satisfaction. If you give me any trouble about it,
I shall have to put these things on," added the sheriff, taking from his
pocket a pair of handcuffs.

The culprit withered at the sight of the irons. He and Laud both walked
to the county jail, where they were locked up. Of course the
imprisonment of such a man as the wicked nabob caused a sensation; but
there was no one to object. He was willing to pay any sum of money to
get out of the scrape; but the majesty of the law must be vindicated,
and there was a contest between money and justice. He obtained bail by
depositing the large amount required in the hands of two men, whom his
well-fed lawyer procured. Between two days he left the city; but
Beardsley kept the run of him, and when he was wanted for trial, he was
brought back from a western state.

On the trial a desperate attempt was made to break down the witnesses;
but it failed. The first for the defence was Mrs. Sykes; but her
evidence was not what had been expected of her. She had told, and
repeated the lie, that the captain left his house at four o'clock on the
morning after the outrage; but in court, and under oath, she would not
perjure herself. She declared that the defendant had left home about
eleven o'clock in the evening, dressed in her husband's blue frock,
boots, and hat. Mr. Sykes, after his wife had told the whole truth, was
afraid to testify as he had said he should do. A conviction followed;
and the prisoner was sent