not satisfy your petty extortions—­that you might betray them to your relentless employer, whilst, under all possible circumstances you fleeced them by threats, and acted the vampire on a small scale.  You are no longer a bailiff on this estate, and I have the further satisfaction to assure you, that in consequence of a private interview I had with the new bishop, the Right Rev. Dr. Lucre, concerning your appointment to the situation of under goaler at Castle Cumber, I have succeeded in getting it cancelled; so that you are at liberty to carry your low knavery to the best market you can get for it.  In all this, I am authorized by my brother, who, I trust, will soon see the erroneous notions which he entertains upon the subject of property, and his duties as landlord.  You, my dear friend, Mr. Hickman—­my friend, I say with pride, and the friend of the poor with still greater pride—­you will have the goodness to receive from Mr. M’Clutchy and M’Slime all books and documents pertaining,to the estate, that are in their possession.”

“Well, be my sowl,” said Darby, who was the first to break the silence that followed these observations; “if you were Lord Cumber himself, instead of his brother, I’d call that same tratement of me as purty a piece of ingratitude as ever came acrass me;—­me that gave you most of the information—­that sould them both, I may say—­an’ the letthers too that convicted them, are they forgotten?”

“There is your friend and kindred spirit, Mr. M’Clutchy,” replied Mr. Topertoe, “who, only that he never forgives an injury, might get you a secret appointment among the Castle Spies and Informers, with whom, or rather it would appear, with the gentleman who drills them, he has considerable influence.  It is for such a respectable corps that your talents are best adapted.”

“Of a truth,” said Solomon, “this is a turning of the tables, to use a somewhat vulgar adage.  As for me, I know it is good to be purified in the furnace, and scourged with many stripes, as it is a fresh proof that I am cared for.”

Up until this moment M’Clutchy had not uttered a single syllable, but, as we have said, he trembled very much, his temples throbbed, and his brow fell.  The squint in his left eye became deeper and more guilt-like.  The revulsion of feeling, coming upon him so unexpectedly as it did, was dreadful, and the tumult within him quite beyond the power of language to describe.

He merely said, and this with parched lips and slow enunciation—­

“Very well, Mr. Topertoe; your wishes touching the giving up of all documents connected with the property shall be duly complied with, as far as I am concerned.  That, is all I choose to say just now.”

“And so far as I am concerned,” said Solomon, “I can say that mine also shall be rendered up with rejoicing—­with rejoicing that I have no further intercourse with a profligate and most unchristian landlord.  I feel that in this thing I have cause to be rather thankful than otherwise.”