d Williams, suddenly recollecting himself;
"have you claimed the reward promised to him who should restore these
bills?"

"What reward?"

"No less than a thousand dollars. It was publicly promised under the
hands of Mrs. Maurice and of Hemmings, her husband's executor."

"Really," said I, "that circumstance escaped my attention, and I wonder
that it did; but is it too late to repair the evil?"

"Then you have no scruple to accept the reward?"

"Certainly not. Could you suspect me of so strange a punctilio as that?"

"Yes; but I know not why. The story you have just finished taught me to
expect some unreasonable refinement upon that head. To be hired, to be
bribed, to do our duty is supposed by some to be degrading."

"This is no such bribe to me. I should have acted just as I have done,
had no recompense been promised. In truth, this has been my conduct, for
I never once thought of the reward; but, now that you remind me of it, I
would gladly see it bestowed. To fulfil their engagements, in this
respect, is no more than justice in the Maurices. To one in my condition
the money will be highly useful. If these people were poor, or generous
and worthy, or if I myself were already rich, I might less repine at
their withholding it; but, things being as they are with them and with
me, it would, I think, be gross injustice in them to withhold, and in me
to refuse."

"That injustice," said Williams, "will, on their part, I fear, be
committed. 'Tis pity you first applied to Mrs. Maurice. Nothing can be
expected from her avarice, unless it be wrested from her by a lawsuit."

"That is a force which I shall never apply."

"Had you gone first to Hemmings, you might, I think, have looked for
payment. He is not a mean man. A thousand dollars, he must know, is not
much to give for forty thousand. Perhaps, indeed, it may not yet be too
late. I am well known to him, and, if you please, will attend you to him
in the evening, and state your claim."

I thankfully accepted this offer, and went with him accordingly. I found
that Hemmings had been with Mrs. Maurice in the course of the day; had
received from her intelligence of this transaction, and had entertained
the expectation of a visit from me for this very purpose.

While Williams explained to him the nature of my claim, he scanned me
with great intentness. His austere and inflexible brow afforded me
little room to hope for success, and this hopelessness was confirmed by
h