ing forehead, were indisputable indices of the inner man. His high, broad shoulders, in-knees, and long and powerful arms, added to the uncomeliness of his personelle, and made him anything but a taking individual. He wore a broad-brimmed hat, a rough wrap-rascal, and hob-nailed shoes.

Inglis closed the door as he entered. The tall man rose, in something of a polite greeting; but the wrap-rascal fellow impudently sat still. Inglis, for an instant, looked upon them breathlessly, and the blood, departing from his cheek, crowded coldly around his heart.

"I presume," said the man in the snuffbrown great-coat, "that you, sir, are Mr. James Inglis, and the friend of the Count de Puffendoff?"

"My name is James Inglis-yes. I once was on friendly terms with Count Puffendoff, but I am no longer his friend."

"At least, you tell me so," replied the man, who slightly smiled, as if sceptical of the truth of what Inglis deposed.

"Yes, I repeat I'm no longer his friend, and I hope I am a person of veracity."

"Pity is it your friendship warnt dissolved long ago!" interrupted the wearer of the wrap-rascal, in an ironical tone of taunting, accompanied by a withering look, as his furtive glance peered from beneath those bushy, hanging eye-brows, which gave such a dash of the villain to his face.

"You'll probably have the kindness to leave this gentleman and his conversation to myself," rebukingly said the snuff-brown. "Mr. Inglis," continued he, we come, I fear, on unpleasant business; but every man has his duty to perform, and my own, at least, shall be done as mildly as the circumstances admit. Sir, is this your signature?" said he, taking a document from his pocket-book, and carefully exhibiting it to the tremulous Inglis.

James turned pale as a marble statue-he held his breath for a moment, then ejaculated "It is !"

"You have done right, Mr. Inglis, in at once making the acknowledgment. The denial would, in you, have been useless-to

VOL. III.

F

Sir, you

are my

your disadvantage.

prisoner!"

"Your what-your what?" maniacally exclaimed the frantic James.

My prisoner," calmly repeated his

accuser.

"Good heavens! I never "

"Whisht-don't go on that ere vaytake it coolly!" said the wrap-rascal man, in a wonderfully calm and collected manner. "May this hour be my last if ever "— ""Taint not no use presisting," observed the one seated.

"My duty's my duty, Mr. Inglis. You must accompany us," in a tone of persuasive remonstrance, said the snuff-brown.

"I will not, though-I'll forfeit my life, I will not!" shouted James, in a paroxysm of despair, and making an effort to fly out at the door, in which he was unsuccessful, as the experienced official stood with his back against the barrier previous to making his accusation.

"Of what do you deem me guilty," asked Inglis, in the uplifted voice of madness!

"Forgery, and no mistake!" answered the wrap-rascal, in a manner as if he really enjoyed the avowal.

"Forgery!-forgery!" reiterated Inglis. "You accuse an innocent man. I'll swear you shall never take me; you shall not, by G-!" he made another spring at the door, and endeavoured to push aside, with convulsive thrust, the tall man, but was again repulsed.

""Taint no use kickin' up all this commotion, and werry unpleasant going on. Cos vy? We must clap the bracelets on you, my boy! 'Taint no use botherin'—we're men o' business—we is; and are no new hands at this ere game," half smilingly said the brutal fellow in the rough coat, with a sort of relish for the scene, as he jumped with alacrity from his seat, the iron fetters awfully jingling, as he hurriedly tore them from his pocket, and, in an instant, snap went the handcuff round the prisoner's wrist !

"Do be resigned sir; remember our duty," somewhat kindly observed the tall man. "I's 'a thought that you, a gen❜leman,

would show a leetle better behaviour, and try to obey the laws of your country, and come with us in a respectable way," added the other. 'Pon my honour, you aint half such a plucky cove as Breakbolt Bill as we cotched and drawed out o' Seven Dials last week!"

This altercation and scuffling attracted the attention of the inmates, and in a few moments the squire and his daughter demanded admittance. The door was opened-and Gideon and Letitia beheld a spectacle more hideous-awe-striking, than death itself!

"In the love and name of God," exclaimed Gideon, whose lips were blanched and tremulous, and whose breath heaved quick and chokingly, "is it a dream, or am I bewildered? Good heavens! what are you going to do? He he is my son-in-law !

A mistake! a mistake! and-"

"No mistake! not any mistake about it!" familiarly and unfeelingly winked the man who held the manacles, as he thus replied.

"There is the warrant for his apprehension," said the snuff-brown. "I am a BowStreet officer, and he is one of our assistant detective force."