Then, for the first time, did we tell the forger that he had a son near him, who was held to answer for an attempt at murder.  The feelings of the man were obliged to yield before the intelligence, but how much more intense was his sorrow, when told that his son had nearly murdered the very man who had stepped forward to save him from starvation!

“He came honestly by the disposition, so don’t blame your son,” said Brown, bluntly.  “Consider how much injury you have caused the old gentleman, and ask your heart if there is not an opportunity to make some redress!”

“What would you have me do?” demanded the forger, sullenly.

“You own a well-stocked tract of land; you must give him a deed of it, and then leave this part of the country forever,” Mr. Brown said.

“But then I shall have to begin the world without a penny, and I am growing old,” pleaded the forger.

“So did your victim; and yet his age is greater than yours.  When stripping him of wealth you had no misgivings, and as you showed no mercy, neither shall we.”

“Give me time to consult with my friends,” pleaded Follet; but Mr. Brown was deaf to his entreaties.

“Either go with me before the commissioner, and give a title to your property, or else you go to prison and wait the return of a ship to England, where you will be tried for forgery, and probably condemned.  You can take your choice—­a life at the hulks, or freedom and poverty.”

“This is a d——­d trap!” yelled the forger, “but I will not be caught so easily.”

“As you please,” returned Mr. Brown, carelessly; “I have a greater desire to see justice executed on men of your stamp than to attempt to compromise matters.  Come with me.”

He passed his arm through Follet’s, and beckoned Mike to do likewise; but before the trio had taken three steps towards the door the forger’s heart began to soften.

“Am I to be locked up?” he demanded.

“Ay, in the darkest cell in the prison,” returned Mr. Brown, firmly.

“One moment!” he exclaimed; “will you agree to let me go free if I comply with your request?”

We gave the required pledge, and in less than three hours’ time we had the satisfaction of placing in Mr. Critchet’s hands a deed of all the property owned by Follet; and although the amount was not near the sum that the former had expended to save the latter’s neck, yet it was sufficient to place the old gentleman in affluent circumstance’s for the remainder of his life.

CHAPTER LXIV.

MR. BROWN’S DISCHARGE FROM THE POLICE FORCE.—­BILL SWINTON’S CONFESSION.