eated so often during the day not
only unsealed his eyes, but recalled to his recollection where he was.

"Now, my youngster, let us rig you out; you recollect you stated that
you were going home for your outfit, and now I'll give you one, that you
may have one fib less on your conscience."

By the generosity of McElvina, Willy was soon fitted with two suits of
clothes, requiring little alteration, and Mr Beaujou, having received a
further order for a supply of shirts, and other articles necessary to
complete, made his bow and disappeared.

The two captains resumed their chairs, and our hero again coiled himself
on the sofa, and in one minute was as sound asleep as before.

"And now, McElvina," resumed Debriseau, "I should like to know by what
arguments your employer contrived to reconcile your present vocation
with your punctilious regard for honesty? For I must confess, for my
own part, that although I have followed smuggling as a livelihood, I
have never defended it as an honest calling, and have looked forward
with occasional impatience to the time when I should be able to leave it
off."

"Defend it! Why I'll just repeat to you the arguments used by the old
gentleman. They convinced me. As I said before, I am always open to
conviction. Captain Debriseau, you will acknowledge, I trust, that laws
are made for the benefit of all parties, high and low, rich and poor?"

"Granted."

"You'll allow also, that law-makers should not be lawbreakers; and that
if they are so, they cannot expect that others will regard what they
disregard themselves."

"Granted also."

"Once more--by the laws of our country, the receiver is as bad as the
thief, and they who instigate others to commit an offence are equally
guilty with the offending party."

"It cannot be denied," replied Debriseau.

"Then you have acceded to all the propositions that I wish, and we shall
come to an undeniable and mathematical conclusion. Observe, law-makers
should not be law-breakers. Who enacted these laws?--the aristocracy of
the nation, seated in their respective houses, the Lords and the
Commons. Go, any night you please, to the Opera, or any other place of
public resort, in which you can have a view of their wives and daughter.
I'll stake my existence that every female there shall be disened out in
some contraband article of dress--not one but shall prove to be a
receiver of smuggled goods, and, therefore, as bad as those whom they
have