uarantee
nothing to you. For aught I know you may be in gaol before the night
is come. All I have to tell you is this, that if by obtaining a
confession from you I am able to restore my friends to their property
without a prosecution, I shall do so. Now you may answer me or not,
as you like."

"Trust him, father," said the daughter. "It will be best for you."

"But I have told him everything," said Mollett. "What more does he
want of me?"

"I want you to give your written acknowledgment that when you
went through that ceremony of marriage with Miss Wainwright in
Dorsetshire, you committed bigamy, and that you knew at that time
that you were doing so."

Mr. Mollett, as a matter of course, gave him the written document,
and then Mr. Prendergast took his leave, bowing graciously to the two
women, and not deigning to cast his eyes again on the abject wretch
who crouched by the fire.

"Don't be hard on a poor creature who has fallen so low," said Mrs.
Mollett as he left the room. But Mary Mollett junior followed him to
the door and opened it for him. "Sir," she said, addressing him with
some hesitation as he was preparing to depart.

"Well, Miss Mollett; if I could do anything for you it would gratify
me, for I sincerely feel for you,--both for you and for your mother."

"Thank you, sir; I don't know that there is anything you can do for
us--except to spare him. The thief on the cross was forgiven, sir."

"But the thief on the cross repented."

"And who shall say that he does not repent? You cannot tell of his
heart by scripture word, as you can of that other one. But our
Lord has taught us that it is good to forgive the worst of sinners.
Tell that poor lady to think of this when she remembers him in her
prayers."

"I will, Miss Mollett; indeed, indeed I will;" and then as he left
her he gave her his hand in token of respect. And so he walked away
out of Spinny Lane.

CHAPTER XLI.

THE LOBBY OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. Prendergast as he walked out of Spinny Lane, and back to St.
Botolph's church, and as he returned thence again to Bloomsbury
Square in his cab, had a good deal of which to think. In the first
place it must be explained that he was not altogether self-satisfied
with the manner in which things had gone. That he would have made
almost any sacrifice to recover the property for Herbert Fitzgerald,
is certainly true; and it is as true that he would have omitted no
possible effort to disc