such an effect so easily, smiled as he gazed from one to the other. Cheston was the first to recover. 'Who was the benefactor?' 6 'Well, Sir Sydney,' returned the Governor, still smiling, but that I am forbid to tell the secrets of my prison-house I could a tale unfold. Ha ha! ha!' He was again naturally pleased at having fallen on so apt a quotation. The fact is,' he added, that I am in a measure bound to reticence. The young man's friend was one of those people-very rare in my experience-who do good by stealth and blush to find it fame.' The Governor was again delighted with himself at having found so apt a quotation, and again he showed it. He asked me,' continued the smiling official, in terms which I can scarcely disregard, not to reveal his share in that meritorious enterprise. I believe, gentlemen, that for once I have seen a practical Christian, and that practical Christian was the man whose influence released young Banks from prison.' He spoke with pleased warmth upon this topic, but looking from Joe's face to Sir Sydney's and from Sir Sydney's face to Joe's, he read no answering smile. 'I assure you, sir,' said Joe, with a gravity before which the Governor's smile died away, and Sir Sydney Cheston will assure you, that we are here upon an enterprise of no common importance. It is vital to me to know this young man's whereabouts. If you will give me the name of the man who did this good deed, I pledge you my word of honour that I can and will exculpate you to him, and could and would if you had been sworn to secresy a hundred times.' 'I don't think it is possible,' said Cheston, 'to exaggerate the importance of my friend's request, either as regards himself or young Banks. Melbourne's a wide word. The young fellow may have gone anywhere from Melbourne, and we might chase him in vain for years. 6 It can injure nobody,' Joe broke in again, 'to let me know who has anticipated me. My purpose,' he added, in coming here was to set afoot a plan for the mitigation of his sentence. Will you help me to find him? 'It's for the young fellow's good,' chimed in Sir Sydney; and between the two the Governor hauled down the flag of resistance, and in the act struck the pair dumb. 'Well, gentlemen, under the circumstances I suppose I am justified; at least I feel so. The gentleman who procured young Banks's release, who fitted him out for the world anew, who gave him a free passage to Melbourne and two hundred pounds to begin the world again with, was-be paused to give effect to his announcement-his original prosecutor, Mr. George Bushell.' To say that his hearers were astonished is to say nothing. The Governor had intended a surprise, but seeing dimly that the effect he had produced multiplied his hopes by a million or thereabouts, he also became amazed, as a man might, who, suddenly closing a door to startle you, should find that he had slammed the house down. Cheston and Joe could only stare in blank wonder, and the Governor, discomfited without knowing why, looked helplessly from one to the other. At last Cheston burst into almost hysteric laughter, stamping to and fro about the street. I beg your pardon,' he gasped after a minute or two, holding Joe's arm and looking at him through tears of laughter. 'I wouldn't wound you, Joe; I couldn't help it.' The villain!' cried Joe, finding his tongue. 'The amazing old serpent!' said Cheston, asping still. Machiavelli was a fool to him.' END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. LONDON: PRINTED BY AND PARLIAMENT STREET NEW FINE-ART WORK. Large 4to, bound in buckram, 215. Abdication, The; or, Time Tries All. An Historical Drama. By W. D. SCOTT-MONCRIEFF. With Seven Etchings by JOHN PETTIE, R.A., W. Q. ORCHARDSON, R.A., J. MAC WHIRTER, A.R.A., COLIN HUNTER, R. MACBETH, and TOM GRAHAM. Crown 8vo, Coloured Frontispiece and Illustrations, cloth gilt, 75. 6d. Advertising, A History of. From the Earliest Times. Illustrated by Anecdotes, Curious Speclmens, and Notices of Successful Advertisers. By HENRY SAMPSON. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, with 639 Illustrations, 7s. 6d. Architectural Styles, A Handbook of. From the German of A. ROSENGARTEN by W. COLLETT-SANDARS. Artemus Ward's Works: The Works of CHARLES FARRER BROWNE, better known as ARTEMUS WARD. With Portrait, Facsimile of Handwriting, &c. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7s. 6d. Bankers, A Handbook of London; With some Account of their Predecessors, the Early Goldsmiths; together with Lists of Bankers from 1677 to 1876. By F. G. HILTON PRICE. Bardsley (Rev. C. W.), Works by: By English Surnames: Their Sources and Significations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, Illustrated, 7s. 6d. Bartholomew Fair, Memoirs of. By HENRY MORLEY. New Edition, with One Hundred Illustrations. |