a little of his power--"an honest jury, Mr. Hartley."

"I give you leave to say so, Val; but, in the meantime, I will accept
one favor from you, if you grant me two."

"How is that sir?" asked Val.

"Send me that poteen you spoke of, and ignore the Bills against these
M'Caffreys."

"No, sir," replied Val, looking with his own peculiar beetle-browed
smile at Sir William, "I shall not; for by G--, we will find true Bills
against the four M'Caffreys. We might do something for humanity, Mr.
Hartley; but we are not to be made fools of before our own faces."

"I do not understand you," replied Hartley.

"He is nothing but a scoundrel, as I said," returned Sir William--"that
is all; a low-born scoundrel; and it is a disgrace to see such a
fellow's name upon any Grand Jury list."

"Hartley," replied Spavin, "we do not wish to refuse either Sir William
or you in such a matter as this; but the fact is, M'Clutchy is right.
This is at bottom a party matter--a political matter, and you know it
is."

"No, sir; on my own part and on Sir William's I disclaim any such
knowledge."

"You know, Hartley, you are canvassing the county."

"Yes, but what has that to do with these; men or their affairs?"

"What--why you know that if we ignore the Bills against them, they will
be out and ready to vote for you at the forthcoming election."

Hartley looked at him with surprise but said nothing.

"Now," he proceeded, "I will tell you what we will do. If you and Sir
William pledge your words, as men of honor, that you will not accept the
votes of these men, the matter you wish shall be managed."

Sir William started to his feet.

"Great God," said he, "is it not monstrous that an oath of secrecy
should bind us to conceal these inquiries?"

"It is monstrous, Sir William," replied his friend; "I do believe there
is not such, a scene of shameless and hardened corruption on earth, as a
Grand Jury Room at the present day."

This, however, they said rather aside to each other.

"No, sir," replied Hartley to the last proposal, "neither I nor Sir
William shall enter into any such shameful compromise. I felt perfectly
satisfied of the slight chance of justice which these poor men had, and
will have from a jury so composed as theirs I know will be; and that was
the reason why I did not hesitate to try, if I could, with any effect,
save them from what I now perceive is designed for them--a political
punishment independent of crime."

"