“It’s right!” said Mr. Belcher.  “The State prison may be in it, but it’s right!”

And then, confirming his foul determination by an oath, he added: 

“I’ll stand by it.”

Then he rang his bell, and called for Phipps.

“Phipps,” said he, as his faithful and plastic servitor appeared, “come in, and close the door.”

When Phipps, with a question in his face, walked up to where Mr. Belcher was sitting at his desk, with the forged document before him, the latter said: 

“Phipps, did you ever see this paper before?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now, think hard—­don’t be in a hurry—­and tell me when you saw it before.  Take it in your hand, and look it all over, and be sure.”

“I can’t tell, exactly,” responded Phipps, scratching his had; “but I should think it might have been six years ago, or more.  It was a long time before we came from Sevenoaks.”

“Very well; is that your signature?”

“It is, sir.”

“Did you see Benedict write his name?  Did you see Johnson and Ramsey write their names?”

“I did, sir.”

“Do you remember all the circumstances—­what I said to you, and what you said to me—­why you were in the room?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Phipps, do you know that if it is ever found out that you have signed that paper within a few weeks, you are as good as a dead man?”

“I don’t know what you mean, sir,” replied Phipps, in evident alarm.

“Do you know that that signature is enough to send you to the State prison?”

“No, sir.”

“Well, Phipps, it is just that, provided it isn’t stuck to.  You will have to swear to it, and stand by it.  I know the thing is coming.  I can feel it in my bones.  Why it hasn’t come before, the Lord only knows.”

Phipps had great faith in the might of money, and entire faith in Mr. Belcher’s power to save him from any calamity.  His master, during all his residence with and devotion to him, had shown himself able to secure every end he had sought, and he believed in him, or believed in his power, wholly.

“Couldn’t you save me, sir, if I were to get into trouble?” he inquired, anxiously.

“That depends upon whether you stand by me, Phipps.  It’s just here, my boy.  If you swear, through thick and thin, that you saw these men sign this paper, six years ago or more, that you signed it at the same time, and stand by your own signature, you will sail through all right, and do me a devilish good turn.  If you balk, or get twisted up in your own reins, or thrown off your seat, down goes your house.  If you stand by me, I shall stand by you.  The thing is all right, and just as it ought to be, but it’s a little irregular.  It gives me what belongs to me, but the law happens to be against it.”

Phipps hesitated, and glanced suspiciously, and even menacingly, at the paper.  Mr. Belcher knew that he would like to tear it in pieces, and so, without unseemly haste, he picked it up, placed it in its drawer, locked it in, and put the key in his pocket.