know they are bad characters, and that
I, and many others, held them at a distance, when they were in
Lawrenceburgh."

The rest of the company retired while he was thus lecturing me so
sanctimoniously.

No one can imagine the feelings I then had. I was at first confounded,
then enraged, to witness the conduct of that black-hearted villain, he
little suspecting that I knew him to be the very man that was in the
room the day before, dressed in disguise. How could I feel otherwise.
There he was lecturing me about duty, as if he had been a saint. It is
true, he sustained that character at home. I had known him for many
years as a leading man in the very respectable church to which he there
belonged. Had I not been satisfied of the base part he was acting, when
I met him the day before in disguise--his hypocritical lecture might
have been beneficial. But I discovered he was an arrant knave--a real
whitewashed devil, and I could with difficulty refrain from telling him
my thoughts. I left, wondering how such a Judas could go so long
"unwhipt of justice"--how he could avoid exposure. Probably it was by a
change of dress.

It was now time I had visited the hospital, to show reason why I had not
fulfilled my engagement on the previous evening. The colonel received me
with a welcome countenance, and remarked, he "was glad I had returned,
for," said he, "I feared you had gone away."

I told him I was weary when I went home; that after supper I had laid
down to rest a few minutes, and slept longer than I intended, and that
was the reason I had not returned. He was satisfied with my excuse, and
introduced another subject. He inquired if I had heard any news, or seen
any of the Lawrenceburgh citizens; and if so, had his name been
mentioned? I replied, that it had been the principal topic of
conversation, some speaking well of him, and others illy. He then wished
to know, who had spoken evil of him? I told him the man's name.

"And he talked about me, did he?" inquired the colonel.

I replied, "He has spoken very hard things against you, alleging that he
never associated or had any dealings with you."

"He told you, he never had any dealings with me? What did you think of
that?"

I answered, "When you resided in Lawrenceburgh, I was too small to
notice such things."

I answered thus designedly, for I had seen him walking arm and arm with
the colonel, time and again, but I was afraid to let the colonel know
that I had even