eir hands. And then you was so rough with me! So I said
to myself I might as well do it;--and I did it."

"What do you want me to say? As far as my forgiveness goes, you have
it!"

"That's saying a great deal, my Lord,--a great deal," said Tifto, now
in tears. "But I ain't said it all yet. He's here; in London!"

"Who's here?"

"Green. He's here. He doesn't think that I know, but I could lay my
hand on him to-morrow."

"There is no human being alive, Major Tifto, whose presence or
absence could be a matter of more indifference to me."

"I'll tell you what I'll do, my Lord. I'll go before any judge, or
magistrate, or police-officer in the country, and tell the truth. I
won't ask even for a pardon. They shall punish me and him too. I'm
in that state of mind that any change would be for the better. But
he,--he ought to have it heavy."

"It won't be done by me, Major Tifto. Look here, Major Tifto; you
have come here to confess that you have done me a great injury?"

"Yes, I have."

"And you say you are sorry for it."

"Indeed I am."

"And I have forgiven you. There is only one way in which you can show
your gratitude. Hold your tongue about it. Let it be as a thing done
and gone. The money has been paid. The horse has been sold. The whole
thing has gone out of my mind, and I don't want to have it brought
back again."

"And nothing is to be done to Green!"

"I should say nothing,--on that score."

"And he has got they say five-and-twenty thousand pounds clear
money."

"It is a pity, but it cannot be helped. I will have nothing further
to do with it. Of course I cannot bind you, but I have told you my
wishes." The poor wretch was silent, but still it seemed as though he
did not wish to go quite yet. "If you have said what you have got to
say, Major Tifto, I may as well tell you that my time is engaged."

"And must that be all?"

"What else?"

"I am in such a state of mind, Lord Silverbridge, that it would be a
satisfaction to tell it all, even against myself."

"I can't prevent you."

Then Tifto got up from his chair, as though he were going. "I wish I
knew what I was going to do with myself."

"I don't know that I can help you, Major Tifto."

"I suppose not, my Lord. I haven't twenty pounds left in all the
world. It's the only thing that wasn't square that ever I did in all
my life. Your Lordship couldn't do anything for me? We was very much
together at one time, my Lord."

"Yes, Major Tifto,