r frankness enchants me. I can no longer dissemble with you; indeed,
I perceive, it would be useless; besides, I always adored candour--it is
my favourite virtue. Tell me how I can help you, and you may command my
services."

"One word," said I: "will you be open and ingenuous with me? I shall ask
you certain questions, not in the least affecting your own safety, but
to which, if you would serve me, you must give me (and since candour is
your favourite virtue, this will be no difficult task) your most candid
replies. To strengthen you in so righteous a course, know also, that
the said replies will come verbatim before a court of law, and that,
therefore, it will be a matter of prudence to shape them as closely
to the truth as your inclinations will allow. To counterbalance this
information, which, I own, is not very inviting, I repeat, that the
questions asked you will be wholly foreign to your own affairs, and
that, should you prove of that assistance to me which I anticipate, I
will so testify my gratitude as to place you beyond the necessity
of pillaging rural young gentlemen and credulous shopkeepers for the
future;--all your present pursuits need only be carried on for your
private amusement."

"I repeat, that you may command me," returned Mr. Jonson, gracefully
putting his hand to his heart.

"Pray, then," said I, "to come at once to the point, how long have you
been acquainted with Mr. Thomas Thornton?"

"For some months only," returned Job, without the least embarrassment.

"And Mr. Dawson?" said I.

A slight change came over Jonson's countenance: he hesitated. "Excuse
me, Sir," said he; "but I am, really, perfectly unacquainted with you,
and I may be falling into some trap of the law, of which, Heaven knows,
I am as ignorant as a babe unborn."

I saw the knavish justice of this remark; and in my predominating zeal
to serve Glanville, I looked upon the inconvenience of discovering
myself to a pickpocket and sharper, as a consideration not worth
attending to. In order, therefore, to remove his doubts, and, at
the same time, to have a more secret and undisturbed place for our
conference, I proposed to him to accompany me home; at first, Mr.
Jonson demurred, but I soon half persuaded and half intimidated him into
compliance.

Not particularly liking to be publicly seen with a person of his
splendid description and celebrated character, I made him walk before me
to Mivart's, and I followed him closely, nev