is doubts. "Why, sir, the poor gentleman
knew him, and wounded him in self-defence, and the rogue was found
a-bleeding from that very wound, and my knife, as done the murder, not
a stone's throw from him as done it, which it was that Dan Cox, and
he'll swing for't, please God." Then, changing her tone, she said,
solemnly, "You'll come and see him, sir?"

"Yes," said Cowen, resolutely, with scarce a moment's hesitation.

The landlady led the way, and took the keys out of her pocket, and
opened Cowen's door. "We keep all locked," said she, half
apologetically; "the magistrate bade us; and everything as we found
it--God help us! There--look at your portmanteau. I wish you may not
have been robbed as well."

"No matter," said he.

"But it matters to me," said she, "for the credit of the house." Then
she gave him the key of the inner door, and waved her hand toward it,
and sat down and began to cry.

Cowen went in and saw the appalling sight. He returned quickly,
looking like a ghost, and muttered, "This is a terrible business."

"It is a bad business for me and all," said she. "He have robbed you
too, I'll go bail."

Captain Cowen examined his trunk carefully. "Nothing to speak of,"
said he. "I've lost eight guineas and my gold watch."

"There!--there!--there!" cried the landlady.

"What does that matter, dame? He has lost his life."

"Ay, poor soul. But 'twont bring him back, you being robbed and all.
Was ever such an unfortunate woman? Murder and robbery in my house!
Travellers will shun it like a pest-house. And the new landlord he
only wanted a good excuse to take it down altogether."

This was followed by more sobbing and crying. Cowen took her
down-stairs into the bar, and comforted her. They had a glass of
spirits together, and he encouraged the flow of her egotism, till at
last she fully persuaded herself it was her calamity that one man was
robbed and another murdered in her house.

Cowen, always a favorite, quite won her heart by falling into this view
of the matter, and when he told her he must go back to the City again,
for he had important business, and besides had no money left, either in
his pockets or his rifled valise, she encouraged him to go, and said,
kindly, indeed it was no place for him now; it was very good of him to
come back at all: but both apartments should be scoured and made decent
in a very few days; and a new Carpet down in Mr. Gardiner's room.

So Cowen went b