pected, were relieved.

On another occasion he was sent to investigate a claim made by a man who
was in the accident at Langrye Station. This man, who was an
auctioneer, had not been hurt at all--only a little skin taken off his
nose,--but our fop with the check trousers advised him to make a job of
it, and said that he himself and his friend had intended to make a
claim, only they had another and more important game in hand, which
rendered it advisable for them to keep quiet. This was just before the
attack made on Mr Lee in the train between Clatterby and London. The
auctioneer had not thought of such a way of raising money, but jumped
readily at the idea; went to Glasgow and Dundee, where he consulted
doctors--showed them his broken nose, coughed harshly in their ears,
complained of nervous affections, pains in the back, loins, and head,
and, pricking his gums slightly, spit blood for their edification; spoke
of internal injuries, and shook his head lugubriously. Doctors, unlike
lawyers, are not constantly on the watch for impostors. The man's
peeled and swelled nose was an obvious fact; his other ailments might,
or might not, be serious, so they prescribed, condoled with him, charged
him nothing, and dismissed him with a hope of speedy cure. Thereafter
the auctioneer went down the Clyde to recruit his injured health, and
did a little in the way of business, just to keep up his spirits, poor
fellow! After that he visited Aberdeen for similar purposes, and then
sent in a claim of 150 pounds damages against the Grand National Trunk
Railway.

Mr Sharp's first proceeding was to visit the doctors to whom the
auctioneer had applied, then he visited the various watering-places
whither the man had gone to recruit and ascertained every particular
regarding his proceedings. Finally, he went to the north of Scotland to
see the interesting invalid himself. He saw and heard him, first, in an
auction-room, where he went through a hard day's work even for a healthy
man; then he visited him in his hotel and found him, the picture of
ruddy health, drinking whisky punch. On stating that he was an agent of
the railway company, and had called to have some conversation regarding
his claim, some of the auctioneer's ruddy colour fled, but being a bold
man, he assumed a candid air and willingly answered all questions;
admitted that he was better, but said that he had lost much time; had
for a long period been unable to attend to