ed, after nearly six
weeks' imprisonment, on so frivolous a charge that it has been dismissed
without my even having occasion to defend myself, or to call my own most
respectable witnesses as to character, when another charge is brought
forward against me in a name that there has been an unaccountable desire
to impose on me. Even if I were the person that this gentleman supposes,
there is nothing proved. He may very possibly have received a forged
letter, but I perceive nothing to fix the charge upon the party he calls
Maddox. Let me call in my own witnesses, who had volunteered to come
down from Bristol, and you will be convinced how completely mistaken the
gentleman is."

To this Mr. Grey replied that the case against him was not yet closed,
and cautioning him to keep his own witnesses back; but he was urgent to
be allowed to call them at once, as it was already late, and they were
to go by the six o'clock train. Mr. Grey consented, and a messenger was
sent in search of them. Mr. Beauchamp looked disturbed. "What say you
to this, Colin?" he asked, uneasily. "That man's audacity is enough to
stagger one, and I only saw him three times at the utmost."

"Never fear," said Colin, "delay is all in our favour." At the same time
Colin left them, and with him went some hope and confidence, leaving all
to feel awkward and distressed during the delay that ensued, the accused
expatiating all the time on the unreasonableness of bringing up an
offence committed so many years ago, in the absence of the only witness
who could prove the whole story, insisting, moreover, on his entire
ignorance of the names of either Maddox or Williams.

The sight of his witnesses was almost welcome. They were a dissenting
minister, and a neat, portly, respectable widow, the owner of a
fancy shop, and both knew Mr. Mauleverer as a popular lecturer upon
philanthropical subjects, who came periodically to Bristol, and made
himself very acceptable. Their faith in him was genuine, and he had even
interested them in the F. U. E. E. and the ladies that patronized it.
The widow was tearfully indignant about the persecution that had
been got up against him, and evidently intended to return with him in
triumph, and endow him with the fancy shop if he would condescend so
far. The minister too, spoke highly of his gifts and graces, but neither
of them could carry back their testimony to his character for more than
three years.

Mr. Grey looked at his watch, H