to make in his personal appearance. There is no legal charge against
him; but, speaking morally, I should be unworthy of the place I hold if
I hesitated to declare my present conviction that his conduct has been
deceitful, inconsiderate, and unfeeling in the highest degree."

To this sharp reprimand Mr. James Smith (evidently tutored beforehand as
to what he was to say) replied that, in attending before the justice, he
wished to perform a plain duty and to keep himself strictly within the
letter of the law. He apprehended that the only legal obligation laid
on him was to attend in that court to declare himself, and to enable
competent witnesses to prove his identity. This duty accomplished, he
had merely to add that he preferred submitting to a reprimand from the
bench to entering into explanations which would involve the disclosure
of domestic circumstances of a very unhappy nature. After that brief
reply he had nothing further to say, and he would respectfully request
the justice's permission to withdraw.

The permission was accorded. As he crossed the room he stopped near his
wife, and said, confusedly, in a very low tone:

"I have done you many injuries, but I never intended this. I am sorry
for it. Have you anything to say to me before I go?"

My mistress shuddered and hid her face. He waited a moment, and, finding
that she did not answer him, bowed his head politely and went out. I did
not know it then, but I had seen him for the last time.

After he had gone, the lawyer, addressing Mr. Robert Nicholson, said
that he had an application to make in reference to the woman Josephine
Durand.

At the mention of that name my mistress hurriedly whispered a few words
into her relation's ear. He looked toward Mr. Philip Nicholson, who
immediately advanced, offered his arm to my mistress, and led her out.
I was about to follow, when Mr. Dark stopped me, and begged that I
would wait a few minutes longer, in order to give myself the pleasure of
seeing "the end of the case."

In the meantime, the justice had pronounced the necessary order to have
the quadroon brought back. She came in, as bold and confident as ever.
Mr. Robert Nicholson looked away from her in disgust and said to the
lawyer:

"Your application is to have her committed for perjury, of course?"

"For perjury?" said Josephine, with her wicked smile. "Very good. I
shall explain some little matters that I have not explained before. You
think I am quite at