JACK CONSOLES ME. 159

heap on the mat, and I think he saw from
my looks that I knew something, so he took
me into the room and I had to make a clean
sweep of it all before the man.”

“Whe—w!” whistles Jack. “My stars!
and what did he say?”

“Why,” I reply, lowering my voice to a
confidential whisper, “the fact is he is so
charmed at having outdone old Monckton,
that it is in consideration of that he has
forgiven me: I believe he is secretly glad it
didn’t come out before, as he would have
been obliged to withdraw, you know, and
now that the verdict is given, and it is
all published, there’s nothing that can be
done excepting for us all to hold our
tongues.”

“What about Mullins, though?” inquires
Jack; “won't he let it out?”

“O no!” I answer briskly. “Father's made
it worth his while to keep silent—given him
tivo guineas!”

Jack whistles again, while I add in rather
a woebegone manner, “I shall very likely