ch this bell beside me to have executed on the
spot. Once in the Tolbooth upon this paper, may God help you, for the
die is cast!"

I must never deny that I was greatly horrified by so much baseness, and
much unmanned by the immediacy and ugliness of my danger. Mr. Simon had
already gloried in the changes of my hue; I make no doubt I was now no
ruddier than my shirt; my speech besides trembled.

"There is a gentleman in this room," cried I. "I appeal to him. I put my
life and credit in his hands."

Prestongrange shut his book with a snap. "I told you so, Simon," said
he; "you have played your hand for all it was worth, and you have
lost.--Mr. David," he went on, "I wish you to believe it was by no
choice of mine you were subjected to this proof. I wish you could
understand how glad I am you should come forth from it with so much
credit. You may not quite see how, but it is a little of a service to
myself. For had our friend here been more successful than I was last
night, it might have appeared that he was a better judge of men than I;
it might have appeared we were altogether in the wrong situations, Mr.
Simon and myself. And I know our friend Simon to be ambitious," says he,
striking lightly on Fraser's shoulder. "As for this stage-play, it is
over; my sentiments are very much engaged in your behalf; and whatever
issue we can find to this unfortunate affair, I shall make it my
business to see it is adopted with tenderness to you."

These were very good words, and I could see besides that there was
little love, and perhaps a spice of genuine ill-will, between those two
who were opposed to me. For all that, it was unmistakable this
interview had been designed, perhaps rehearsed, with the consent of
both; it was plain my adversaries were in earnest to try me by all
methods; and now (persuasion, flattery, and menaces having been tried in
vain) I could not but wonder what would be their next expedient. My eyes
besides were still troubled, and my knees loose under me, with the
distress of the late ordeal; and I could do no more than stammer the
same form of words: "I put my life and credit in your hands."

"Well, well," says he, "we must try to save them. And in the meanwhile
let us return to gentler methods. You must not bear any grudge upon my
friend Mr. Simon, who did but speak by his brief. And even if you did
conceive some malice against myself, who stood by and seemed rather to
hold a candle, I must not let that