you to accept a copy of My oration.'
'Thank you,' said Martin, 'you are very good. I shall be most happy.'
'It ain't quite that, sir, neither,' resumed Pogram; 'air you bold
enough to introduce a copy into your country?'
'Certainly,' said Martin. 'Why not?'
'Its sentiments air strong, sir,' hinted Pogram, darkly.
'That makes no difference,' said Martin. 'I'll take a dozen if you
like.'
'No, sir,' retorted Pogram. 'Not A dozen. That is more than I require.
If you are content to run the hazard, sir, here is one for your Lord
Chancellor,' producing it, 'and one for Your principal Secretary of
State. I should wish them to see it, sir, as expressing what my opinions
air. That they may not plead ignorance at a future time. But don't get
into danger, sir, on my account!'
'There is not the least danger, I assure you,' said Martin. So he put
the pamphlets in his pocket, and they parted.
Mr Bevan had written in his letter that, at a certain time, which fell
out happily just then, he would be at a certain hotel in the city,
anxiously expecting to see them. To this place they repaired without a
moment's delay. They had the satisfaction of finding him within; and of
being received by their good friend, with his own warmth and heartiness.
'I am truly sorry and ashamed,' said Martin, 'to have begged of you. But
look at us. See what we are, and judge to what we are reduced!'
'So far from claiming to have done you any service,' returned the other,
'I reproach myself with having been, unwittingly, the original cause
of your misfortunes. I no more supposed you would go to Eden on such
representations as you received; or, indeed, that you would do anything
but be dispossessed, by the readiest means, of your idea that fortunes
were so easily made here; than I thought of going to Eden myself.'
'The fact is, I closed with the thing in a mad and sanguine manner,'
said Martin, 'and the less said about it the better for me. Mark, here,
hadn't a voice in the matter.'
'Well! but he hadn't a voice in any other matter, had he?' returned Mr
Bevan; laughing with an air that showed his understanding of Mark and
Martin too.
'Not a very powerful one, I am afraid,' said Martin with a blush. 'But
live and learn, Mr Bevan! Nearly die and learn; we learn the quicker.'
'Now,' said their friend, 'about your plans. You mean to return home at
once?'
'Oh, I think so,' returned Martin hastily, for he turned pale at the
thought of
|