aw he was affected at this, for he covered his face with his
handkerchief and turned away, and for some seconds his shoulders moved
convulsively.

"Yes," said I, with a struggle to become humble, "there are richer men,
there are men more influential by family ties and connections, there are
men who occupy a more conspicuous position before the public eye, there
are men who exercise a wider sway in the world of politics and party;
but this I will say, that there is not one--no, not one--individual
in the British dominions who, when you come to consider either the
difficulties he has overcome, the strength of the prejudices he has
conquered, the totally unassisted and unaided struggle he has had to
maintain against not alone the errors, for errors are human, but still
worse, the ungenerous misconceptions, the--I will go further, and call
them the wilful misrepresentations of those who, from education and rank
and condition, might be naturally supposed--indeed, confidently affirmed
to be--to be--"

"I am certain of it!" cried he, grasping my hand, and rescuing me from
a situation very like smothering,--"I am certain of it!" And with a
hurried salutation, for his feelings were evidently overcoming him, he
burst away, and descended the stairs five steps at a time; and although
I was sorry he had not waited till I finished my peroration, I was
really glad that the act had ended and the curtain fallen.

"What a deal of bad money passes current in this world," said I, as I
was alone; "and what a damper it is upon honest industry to think how
easy it is to eke out life with a forgery!"

"What do you say to a dinner with me at the 'Swan' in Innspruck, Potts?"
cried out Boiler, from the courtyard.

"Excuse me, I mean to eat my last cutlet here, with my old Jailer. It
will be an event for the poor fellow as long as he lives. Good-bye, and
a safe journey to you."

CHAPTER XLV. MY CANDID AVOWAL TO KATE HERBERT

I was now bound for the first port in the Mediterranean from which I
could take ship for Malta; and the better to carry out my purpose, I
resolved never to make acquaintance with any one, or be seduced by any
companionship, till I had seen Miss Herbert, and given her the message
I was charged with. This time, at least, I would be a faithful envoy;
at least, as faithful as a man might be who had gone to sleep over his
credentials for a twelvemonth. And so I reached Malta, and took my place
by diligence over the St