the John Smith tried yesterday
on the charge of stealing a watch is no less a person than Basil
Carruthers, Esquire, the owner of Ulverston Priory, and head of one of
the oldest families in England."

"What can I do?" cried Mr. Forster; "it will break his mother's heart;
she can never forget it. He is ruined for life. For a lawyer, I am
strangely unwilling to tell a lie; but it must be done! He must be saved
at any price!" He went to his desk and wrote the following note:

"To the Editor of 'The Times':

"Sir: I beg to call your attention to a paragraph that appears in
'The Times' of today stating that a man, tried under the name of
John Smith for stealing a watch, is no less a person than Basil
Carruthers, Esq., of Ulverston Priory. As the solicitor of that
family, and manager of the Ulverston property, I beg to contradict
it. Mr. Carruthers, himself, informed me of his intention to go
abroad. Without doubt his indignant denial will follow mine. I am,
sir, etc.,

"Herbert Forster."

"That may help him," he said. "I do not like doing it, but I cannot see
my old friend's son perish without trying to save him. I may fail, but I
must try. Perhaps my lie may be blotted out, like Uncle Toby's oath. If
I can persuade him to send a denial, and date it Paris or Vienna, he
will be saved."

Mr. Forster lost no time in applying for an order to see the prisoner.
It was granted at once.

Basil Carruthers--we may use his right name now--looked up in surprise
when Mr. Forster, with the paper in his hand, entered the cell.

"Back again?" he said.

"Yes; it is just as I expected; the papers have got hold of your name,
and there is a grand expose."

Basil held out his hand and read the paragraph.

"It is enough to make your father rise up from his grave," said the
lawyer; "I cannot understand what madness, what infatuation, has come
over you, to drag such a proud name as yours through the dust."

"So it is known," said Basil, slowly. "Well, I cannot help it."

"I have done my best," said Mr. Forster. "I have never yet asked you if
you stole the watch--the idea is too absurd."

"They are so far right that I was found in the room; nothing else
matters."

"I can only imagine that the same folly which has brought you here will
keep you here," said Mr. Forster. "The only thing to be done is to send
a denial to the papers. If you will write one, I will go to Paris myself
to