ef, a perjurer, and a disloyal brother!"

"General Clinton," I cried, "do not listen to his lies. I am the steward
of the estate, and there is not one word of truth in it. The man is a
forfeited rebel turned into a hired spy: there is his story in two
words."

It was thus (in the heat of the moment) I let slip his infamy.

"Fellow," said the Governor, turning his face sternly on the Master, "I
know more of you than you think for. We have some broken ends of your
adventures in the provinces, which you will do very well not to drive me
to investigate. There is the disappearance of Mr. Jacob Chew with all
his merchandise; there is the matter of where you came ashore from with
so much money and jewels, when you were picked up by a Bermudan out of
Albany. Believe me, if I let these matters lie, it is in commiseration
for your family, and out of respect for my valued friend, Lord
Durrisdeer."

There was a murmur of applause from the provincials.

"I should have remembered how a title would shine out in such a hole as
this," says the Master, white as a sheet: "no matter how unjustly come
by. It remains for me, then, to die at my lord's door, where my dead
body will form a very cheerful ornament."

"Away with your affectations!" cries my lord. "You know very well I have
no such meaning; only to protect myself from calumny, and my home from
your intrusion. I offer you a choice. Either I shall pay your passage
home on the first ship, when you may perhaps be able to resume your
occupations under Government, although God knows I would rather see you
on the highway! Or, if that likes you not, stay here and welcome! I have
inquired the least sum on which body and soul can be decently kept
together in New York; so much you shall have, paid weekly; and if you
cannot labour with your hands to better it, high time you should betake
yourself to learn. The condition is--that you speak with no member of my
family except myself," he added.

I do not think I have ever seen any man so pale as was the Master; but
he was erect and his mouth firm.

"I have been met here with some very unmerited insults," said he, "from
which I have certainly no idea to take refuge by flight. Give me your
pittance; I take it without shame, for it is mine already--like the
shirt upon your back; and I choose to stay until these gentlemen shall
understand me better. Already they must spy the cloven hoof, since with
all your pretended eagerness for the family