lice of my youth and my
distress?"

The Doctor bitterly laughed.

"You are difficult to please, Mr. Scuddamore," said he; "but I now offer
you your choice of company between the murdered man and the murderer. If
your conscience is too nice to accept my aid, say so, and I will
immediately leave you. Thenceforward you can deal with your trunk and
its belongings as best suits your upright conscience."

"I own myself wrong," replied Silas. "I should have remembered how
generously you offered to shield me, even before I had convinced you of
my innocence, and I continue to listen to your counsels with gratitude."

"That is well," returned the Doctor; "and I perceive you are beginning
to learn some of the lessons of experience."

"At the same time," resumed the New Englander, "as you confess yourself
accustomed to this tragical business, and the people to whom you
recommend me are your own former associates and friends, could you not
yourself undertake the transport of the box, and rid me at once of its
detested presence?"

"Upon my word," replied the Doctor, "I admire you cordially. If you do
not think I have already meddled sufficiently in your concerns, believe
me, from my heart I think the contrary. Take or leave my services as I
offer them; and trouble me with no more words of gratitude, for I value
your consideration even more lightly than I do your intellect. A time
will come, if you should be spared to see a number of years in health of
mind, when you will think differently of all this, and blush for your
to-night's behaviour."

So saying, the Doctor arose from his chair, repeated his directions
briefly and clearly, and departed from the room without permitting Silas
any time to answer.

The next morning Silas presented himself at the hotel, where he was
politely received by Colonel Geraldine, and relieved, from that moment,
of all immediate alarm about his trunk and its grisly contents. The
journey passed over without much incident, although the young man was
horrified to overhear the sailors and railway porters complaining among
themselves about the unusual weight of the Prince's baggage. Silas
travelled in a carriage with the valets, for Prince Florizel chose to be
alone with his Master of the Horse. On board the steamer, however, Silas
attracted his Highness's attention by the melancholy of his air and
attitude as he stood gazing at the pile of baggage; for he was still
full of disquietude about the futur