ve it to me on both sides, till he left me as you see me.
Still, sir, I can forgive him, and I have done it."

"That, as I said, reflects great credit on your principles--but, in the
meantime, you can still retain these principles and prosecute him.
Your lodging informations against him does not interfere with your own
personal forgiveness of him at all--because it is in behalf of, and for
the safety of society that you come forward to prosecute now."

Darby, who in point of fact had his course already taken, shook his head
and replied, falling back upon the form of M'Slime's language as much as
he could--

"I feel, sir," he replied, "that I'm not permitted."

"Permitted!" repeated the other. "What do you menu?"

"I'm not permitted from above, sir, to prosecute this man. I'm not
justified in it."

"Quite ridiculous, O'Drive, where did you pick up this jargon of the
conventicle--but that reminds me, by the by--you are not a convert
to the Established Church. You belong to the Dissenters, and owe your
change of opinions to Mr. M'Slime."

"If I don't belong to the Established Church now, sir," replied Darby,
"I won't be long so."

"Why," inquired the other, "are you not satisfied with the denomination
of Christians you have joined?"

"M'Slime, sir, converted me--as you say--but I've great objections--and
between you and me, I, fear it's not altogether safe for any man to take
his religion from an attorney."

A smile, as much as he could condescend to, passed over the haughty, but
dignified features of Mr. Lucre.

"O'Drive," said he, "I did not think you possessed so much simplicity
of character as I perceive you do--but touching the prosecution of this
man--you must lodge information, forthwith. You shall bring the warrant
to Mr. M'Clutchy who will back it, and put it into the hands of those
who will lose little time in having it executed."

"I am sorry, sir, that my conscience doesn't justify me in doin' what
you wish."

"What do you mean by conscience, sir?" asked the other, getting warm,
"if you have a conscience you will have no scruple in punishing a man
who is an open enemy to truth, to the gospel, and to the spread of it
through a benighted land. How can you reconcile it to your conscience to
let such a man escape."

"Simply by forgiving him, sir--by lettin' the great, big, ignorant
hathen, have the full benefit of a gospel forgiveness. That's what I
mean, sir, and surely it stands to sense that I