_ be so. And what, Mr Sharp, is the highest penalty for the
crime of incendiarism?'

'By the recent change in the law, transportation only; unless, indeed,
loss of human life occur in consequence of the felonious act; in which
case, the English law construes the offence to be wilful murder,
although the incendiary may not have intended the death or injury of
any person.'

'I see. But here there could have been no loss of life.'

'There might have been, had not you, Mrs Rivers, and Annie, chanced to
sleep out of the house.'

'True--true--a diabolical villain no doubt. But we'll ferret him out
yet. You are a keen hand, Mr Sharp, and will assist, I know. Yes,
yes--it's some fellow that hates me--that I perhaps hate and
loathe'--he added with sudden gnashing fierceness, and striking his
hand with furious violence on the table--'as I do a spotted toad!'

I hardly recognised James Dutton in this fitful, disjointed talk, and
as there was really nothing to be done or to be inquired into, I soon
went away.

'Only one week's interval,' I hastily remarked to Mr Flint one morning
after glancing at the newspaper, 'and another fire at Dutton's
farmhouse!'

'The deuce! He is in the luck of it apparently,' replied Flint,
without looking up from his employment. My partner knew Dutton only by
sight.

The following morning, I received a note from Mrs Rivers. She wished
to see me immediately on a matter of great importance. I hastened to
Mr Dutton's, and found, on arriving there, that George Hamblin was in
custody, and undergoing an examination, at no great distance off,
before two county magistrates, on the charge of having fired Mr
Dutton's premises. The chief evidence was, that Hamblin had been seen
lurking about the place just before the flames broke out, and that
near the window where an incendiary might have entered there were
found portions of several lucifer-matches, of a particular make, and
corresponding to a number found in Hamblin's bedroom. To this Hamblin
replied, that he had come to the house by Mr Dutton's invitation, but
found nobody there. This, however, was vehemently denied by Mr Dutton.
He had made no appointment with Hamblin to meet at his, Dutton's,
house. How should he, purposing as he did to be in London at the time?
With respect to the lucifer-matches, Hamblin said he had purchased
them of a mendicant, and that Mr Dutton saw him do so. This also was
denied. It was further proved, that Hamblin, when in d