point considered was the official assurance of the Bank of England that should the money be returned, prosecution would cease.  All the money had been captured, or returned, and yet they had two of the men prisoners.  What should they do with them?  It was finally agreed to set them free.  Before this was done, however, Hanson cabled his chief in London identifying Thurston as the man who had robbed Worth in Evansville, Indiana, but received the answer that Thurston would not be prosecuted.  Upon receipt of this order both men were allowed to go free, and Nick in a few days sailed for Liverpool.

The major was taken to the hospital, but despite the most careful treatment two of his fingers were lost.  He went from bad to worse, and was finally reduced to the state of a wretched pauper, but ever bearing the derisive title of “Major Bancroft.”  They all remembered him as the thief who bought the Majestic.  Such was the end of a young man whose future had been full of promise, the brightest student of his class in Burrough Road Institute—­a poor pauper, unpitied by all who learned the history of his life.  Thurston secured a place to drive an omnibus to and from the railroad depot to the Majestic Hotel.  He is now an old man, white headed, unknown, forgotten, unloved, and alone.

O, the pity of it!  Two young men of good parentage and of more than ordinary ability, with gracious opportunities, wrecked in early manhood by mad and reckless ambition.  Haste to become rich.  And after the sacrifice of honor and self-respect and the securing that which they had coveted—­could not use it for any commercial purpose.  Thinking that its possession would make them rich they became poor indeed.  They now drop out of our story, followed by our deepest pity and commiseration.

CHAPTER XI

AN HYPOTHETICAL CASE

There seemed to come to Carl some improvement in his physical condition; but there still came over him hours of great depression and despondency, when even Tom could do little to cheer him.

Dr. Marmion in his correspondence with Bishop Albertson had hitherto made no revelation of Carl’s case.  But the conviction came upon him that he, himself, was guilty of what he condemned in others and especially in Carl, in allowing the bishop to retain in his service a man who, in the eyes of the law, was a criminal, the perpetrator of a great crime.  He concluded to write the bishop an hypothetical letter, describing this case, asking his judgment; and in this way find out what course the bishop would pursue if such a case should come into his life, and he wrote the following: 

“My dear bishop Albertson:  To whom but you can I go for advice in an important matter, which at this time is causing me much perplexity?  I feel sure that your conscientious judgment will help me to arrive at an equitable conclusion.  To you this may be hypothetical, but to me it is much worse.