as the door was closed, Ketchum leaned back in his chair and
indulged in a low sarcastic laugh. "The old sinner," he said, aloud;
"he is a cute one; sharp as a pin, but needles are sharper. What a
knack he has of whipping the devil round the stump! To look at that
man you would suppose he was too good for preaching. And he flatters
himself he is imposing on me! He must get up earlier for that. It is
my opinion his only chance when his turn comes will be in cheating his
Satanic Majesty. Well, practice makes perfect, and he has enough
of it. I do declare," he added, after a pause, as if scruples of
conscience were arising in his mind, "I am almost sorry I undertook
this business. But all trades must live."

Consoling himself with this reflection, Ketchum started to hunt up the
grand juror. He found no difficulty in inducing him to make complaint
to Justice Miller, having first satisfied him that an offence had been
committed which the law compelled him to notice officially.

Squire Miller, however, seemed disposed, at first, to take a different
view of the subject. He said he had known Holden a good many years,
and never heard harm of him except that he was a little flighty
sometimes; but if the grand juror insisted, of course he would issue
the warrant.

The minister of the law must have been inexorable, for the complaint
was made, and the warrant signed in due form and delivered to Basset
to be executed.

CHAPTER XII.

_Esculus_.--Come hither to me, master Elbow, come hither,
master constable. How long have you been in this place of
constable?

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

We have seen that when the constable left the shop he felt some
anxiety about the proper course to be pursued. On the one hand were
his duty and avarice, on the other his fears. After some meditation he
finally effected a compromise between them, by adopting the resolution
to wait until the formidable Holden should make his appearance again
in the village, where, he thought he would be less likely, in
open day, and surrounded by others, to resist, or, if he did, the
assistance of the bystanders might be commanded.

Two or three days passed in this manner, none, excepting the five
persons above-mentioned, having any knowledge of the issuing of
the warrant. The excitement had died away, and the little community
supposed no notice would be taken of the occurrence, and, for the most
part, were disposed that none should be. Meanw