tal conclusion, he flung Rust back on the floor and
leaped upon him. At this moment, however, the door of the closet was
thrown open, and Grosket, whom he had entirely forgotten, sprang suddenly
out:

'Come, come, this wont do!' said he; 'no murder!'

Jones made no effort to resist the jerk at his arm with which Grosket
accompanied his words, but quietly rose, and said:

'Well, he drove me to it. He may thank _you_ for his life, not _me_.'

Relieved from his antagonist, Rust recovered his feet, and turning to
Grosket said, in a sneering tone:

'Michael Rust thanks Enoch for having used his influence with his friend,
to prevent the commission of a crime which might have made both Enoch and
his crony familiar with a gallows. A select circle of acquaintance friend
Enoch has.'

Grosket, quietly, pointed to the closet and said:

'You forget that I have been there ever since you came in the room; and
have overheard every thing that passed between you and _my_ friend.'

Rust bit his lip.

'Don't let it annoy you,' continued he, 'for the most of what I heard I
knew before. I have had my eye on you from the time we parted. With all
your benevolent schemes respecting myself I am perfectly familiar. The
debt which you bought up to arrest me on; your attempt to have me indicted
on a false charge of felony; the quiet hint dropped in another quarter,
that if I should be found with my throat cut, or a bullet in my head, you
wouldn't break your heart; I knew them all; but I did not avail myself of
the law. Shall I tell you why, Michael Rust? Because I had a revenge
sweeter than the law could give.'

'Friend Enoch is welcome to it when he gets it,' replied Rust, in a soft
tone. 'But the day when it will come is far off.'

'The day is at hand,' replied Grosket. 'It is here: it is now. Not for a
mine of gold would I forego what I now know; not for any thing that is
dear in the world's eyes, would I spare you one pang that I can now
inflict.'

Rust smiled incredulously, but made no reply.

'Your schemes are frustrated,' continued Grosket. 'The children are both
found; their parentage known; _your_ name blasted. The brother who
fostered you, and loaded you with kindness will have his eyes opened to
your true character; and you will be a felon, amenable to the penalty of
the law, whenever any man shall think fit to call it down upon your head.
But this is nothing to what is in store for you.'

'Well,' said Rust, with the sam