cargoes this gentleman had obtained a knowledge of law which made him a
recognised authority from London Bridge to the Nore.

It was a delicate matter for the master of the _John Henry_ to
broach, and, with the laudable desire of keeping the hero's secret,
he approached it by a most circuitous route. He began with a burglary,
followed with an attempted murder, and finally got on the subject of
bigamy, _via_ the "Deceased Wife's Sister Bill."

"What sort o' bigamy?" inquired the master of the brig.

"Oh, two wives," said Captain Thomsett.

"Yes, yes," said the other, "but are there any mitigating circumstances
in the case, so that you could throw yourself on the mercy o' the court,
I mean?"

"_My_ case!" said Thomsett, glaring. "It ain't for me."

"Oh, no, o' course not," said Captain Stubbs.

"What do you mean by 'o' course not'?" demanded the indignant master of
the _John Henry_.

"Your deal," said Captain Stubbs, pushing the cards over to him.

"You haven't answered my question," said Captain Thomsett, regarding him
offensively.

"There's some questions," said Stubbs slowly, "as is best left
unanswered. When you've seen as much law as I have, my lad, you'll know
that one of the first principles of English law is, that nobody is bound
to commit themselves."

"Do you mean to say you think it _is_ me?" bellowed Captain Thomsett.

"I mean to say nothing," said Captain Stubbs, putting his huge hands on
the table. "But when a man comes into my cabin and begins to hum an'
haw an' hint at things, and then begins to ask my advice about bigamy,
I can't help thinking. This is a free country, and there's no law ag'in
thinking. Make a clean breast of it, cap'n, an' I'll do what I can for
you."

"You're a blanked fool," said Captain Thomsett wrathfully.

Captain Stubbs shook his head gently, and smiled with infinite patience.
"P'raps so," he said modestly. "P'raps so; but there's one thing I can
do, and that is, I can read people."

"You can read me, I s'pose?" said Thomsett sneeringly.

"Easy, my lad," said the other, still preserving, though by an obvious
effort, his appearance of judicial calm. "I've seen your sort before.
One in pertikler I call to mind. He's doing fourteen years now, pore
chap. But you needn't be alarmed, cap'n. Your secret is safe enough with
me."

Captain Thomsett got up and pranced up and down the cabin, but Captain
Stubbs remained calm. He had seen _that_ sort before. It was interesti