“‘Yes, sir; very deep in it.’

    “‘By himself, or in partnership?’ asked Mr. Tyson carelessly.

    “‘Why, I believe he is in partnership with some body.’

    “‘Is he not in partnership,’ said Mr. Tyson, ‘with ——?’ naming
    the person whom the man was anxious to inculpate.

    “‘I believe he was, but I don’t know that he is now.’

    “‘Thee don’t know of their having dissolved?’ asked Mr. Tyson at
    the same time, as if thoughtlessly lighting his pipe.

    “‘No, I do not.  But as I was going to say,’ said the trader—­

    “‘Ah, true,’ said Mr. Tyson, ’we must not forget.  Thee was
    talking about a case of kidnapping; well?’

“‘Last night,’ said the trader, ’a hack drove up to the tavern where I lodge.  The hackman inquired the way to ——­’s tavern, which is the place of rendezvous for ——­ and his gang;’ naming the person whose guilt seemed to be the principal object of inquiry.  ‘I looked into the carriage, and saw two boys.’

    “‘Did thee speak to them?’

    “’No, they were gagged, and that made me think they were
    kidnapped.’

    “‘Was any body with them?’

    “‘Nobody but the driver, and he was black.’

    “‘Did thee direct him as he requested?’ asked Mr. Tyson.

    “‘Yes.’

    “‘And they arrived accordingly?’

    “‘Yes.’

    “‘Did thee follow them?’

    “’No sir, not immediately—­but I went this morning, and inquired
    whether a hack with two boys and a black driver, had not arrived
    late last night, and they said there had.’

    “‘What o’clock last night was it when thee saw the carriage?’

    “‘About ten, sir.’

    “‘Was the hack close, or were the curtains down?’

    “‘The curtains were down, and that increased my suspicion.’

“Mr. Tyson had now heard enough to convince him that if there was any kidnapping in this case, the trader who stood before him had a much nearer connection with it than that of a mere spectator.

“He had said in the first place that he obtained his knowledge from a trader who had been partner with the party implicated.  He then stated that he derived it from seeing the kidnapped persons in a hack.  And though it was ten o’clock at night, (at a time, too, as Mr. Tyson knew, when there was no moon,) yet he could not only see that these two persons were in the hack, but that they were gagged.  He could not have done this by the light of a candle or the moon, because ’the hack was tight, and the curtains were down.’

“Fearing lest the suspicions of the trader might be excited as to the sentiments of Mr. Tyson towards him, an end was put to the part of the dialogue which related to the kidnapping, by saying, ’Well, I am much obliged to thee