pictures, who assume a station that the laws of their
country don't recognise. I am none of your strollers or vagabonds. If
any man brings his action against me, he must describe me as a
gentleman, or his action is null and void. I appeal to you--is this
quite respectful? Really gentlemen--'

'Well, will you have the goodness to state your business then, Mr
Brass?' said the notary.

'Sir,' rejoined Brass, 'I will. Ah Mr Witherden! you little know
the--but I will not be tempted to travel from the point, sir, I believe
the name of one of these gentlemen is Garland.'

'Of both,' said the notary.

'In-deed!' rejoined Brass, cringing excessively. 'But I might have
known that, from the uncommon likeness. Extremely happy, I am sure, to
have the honour of an introduction to two such gentlemen, although the
occasion is a most painful one. One of you gentlemen has a servant
called Kit?'

'Both,' replied the notary. 'Two Kits?' said Brass smiling. 'Dear me!'

'One Kit, sir,' returned Mr Witherden angrily, 'who is employed by both
gentlemen. What of him?'

'This of him, sir,' rejoined Brass, dropping his voice impressively.
'That young man, sir, that I have felt unbounded and unlimited
confidence in, and always behaved to as if he was my equal--that young
man has this morning committed a robbery in my office, and been taken
almost in the fact.'

'This must be some falsehood!' cried the notary.

'It is not possible,' said Mr Abel.

'I'll not believe one word of it,' exclaimed the old gentleman.

Mr Brass looked mildly round upon them, and rejoined,

'Mr Witherden, sir, YOUR words are actionable, and if I was a man of
low and mean standing, who couldn't afford to be slandered, I should
proceed for damages. Hows'ever, sir, being what I am, I merely scorn
such expressions. The honest warmth of the other gentleman I respect,
and I'm truly sorry to be the messenger of such unpleasant news. I
shouldn't have put myself in this painful position, I assure you, but
that the lad himself desired to be brought here in the first instance,
and I yielded to his prayers. Mr Chuckster, sir, will you have the
goodness to tap at the window for the constable that's waiting in the
coach?'

The three gentlemen looked at each other with blank faces when these
words were uttered, and Mr Chuckster, doing as he was desired, and
leaping off his stool with something of the excitement of an inspired
prophet whose foretellings had