“You see, Darby, that just men, that is the Elect, have their privileges.”

“Troth, if to fall seven times a day is the privilege of a just man, I’d never be anything else all my life,” replied Darby; “and myself wondhers that there’s e’er an unjust man alive.”

“Darby, I fear that Mr. Lucre has not improved your perceptions of spiritual things.”

“Why, as to that, Mr. M’Slime, if you knew Mr. Lucre’s piety as well as I do—­however, as you say yourself, sir, it’s known, or rather it’s unknown, the piety of that gintleman.”

“Well, Darby, between you and me, I am just as well satisfied that you did not attach yourself, as I expected you would have done, to our congregation; for, to acknowledge a truth, Darby, which I do in all charity, I tell you, my friend, that they are awfully Pharisaical, and wretchedly deficient in a proper sense of Christian justice; I, Darby, am a proof of it.  I mentioned to another person before, Darby, that the Christian devotion of an act I did, would occasion considerable risk to my own reputation, and you see it has done so.  I shall bear all the blame, Darby—­all shame, Darby—­all opprobium, Darby, sooner than that precious vessel—­hitherto precious, I should have said—­and yet, perhaps, precious still—­”

“He is a just man, may be,” said Darby.  “He is, I would trust—­sooner, I say, than that precious vessel should be broken up as unprofitable.”

“I suppose he is one of those vessels, sir,” said Darby, “that don’t wish to hould any wather, unless when it’s mix—­”

“He is, or rather was, a brother Elder, Darby; but then, it mattereth not; I have covered his trangressions with my charity.  I permit you to say as much among your friends in the religious world, whenever you hear the name of Solomon M’Slime mentioned.  It is also due to myself to say as much.”

“I’m afther comin’ from Mr. M’Clutchy’s, sir,” said Darby, “and he desired me to say that he hopes you’ll attend at Mr. M’Loughlin’s about two o’clock, and not to fail, as its to be a busy day wid him.  The sheriffs to be there to put them out.”

“I shall not fail, Darby,” replied the attorney; “but who comes here, riding at a rapid pace, like a messenger who bringeth good tidings?”

Darby looked out, and at once recognized one of Deaker’s grooms, riding at a smart gallop towards Solomon’s house.

The latter raised the window as the man approached—­

“Well, my friend, what is the matter?”

“Sir, Mr. Deaker wishes to see you above all things; he is just dying, and swears he cannot depart till you come.”

“I shall order the car immediately,” replied Solomon.  “Say I shall not lose a moment.”

The man wheeled round his horse, and galloped off at even a greater speed than before.

“Darby, my friend,” said he, “I shall attend at M’Loughlin’s without fail.  Justice must be rendered, Darby; justice must be rendered to that wretched man and his family.”