“You are never without some kind of news-mostly bad!” says Keepum, flinging himself into a chair, with an air of restored confidence.  Mr. Snivel bows, thanks the gentleman for the compliment, and commences to read.  “This news,” he adds, “may be relied upon, having come from Lloyd’s List:  ’Intelligence was received here (this is, you must remember, from a London paper, he says, in parentheses) this morning, of the total loss of the American ship—­, bound from this port for Charleston, U.S., near the Needles.  Every soul on board, except the Captain and second mate, perished.  The gale was one of the worst ever known on this coast-’”

“The worst ever known on this coast!” ejaculates Mr. Keepum, his wicked eyes steadily fixed upon Maria.  “One of Trueman’s ships,” Mr. Snivel adds.  “Unlucky fellow, that Trueman—­second ship he has lost.”

“By-the-bye,” rejoins Keepum, as if a thought has just flashed upon him, “your old friend, Tom Swiggs, was supercargo, clerk, or whatever you may call it, aboard that ship, eh?”

It is the knave who can most naturally affect surprise and regret when it suits his purposes, and Mr. Snivel is well learned in the art.  “True!” he says, “as I’m a Christian.  Well, I had made a man of him-I don’t regret it, for I always liked him-and this is the end of the poor fellow, eh?” Turning to McArthur, he adds, rather unconcernedly:  “You know somewhat of him?” The old man sits motionless beside his daughter, the changes of whose countenance discover the inward emotions that agitate her bosom.  Her eyes fill with tears; she exchanges inquiring glances, first with Keepum, then with Snivel; then a thought strikes her that she received a letter from Tom, setting forth his prospects, and his intention to return in the ship above named.  It was very natural that news thus artfully manufactured, and revealed with such apparent truthfulness, should produce a deep impression in the mind of an unsuspecting girl.  Indeed, it was with some effort that she bore up under it.  Expressions of grief she would fain suppress before the enemy gain a mastery over her-and ere they are gone the cup flows over, and she sinks exhausted upon the sofa.

“There! good as far as it goes.  You have now another mode of gaining the victory,” Mr. Snivel whispers in the ear of his friend, Keepum; and the two gentlemen pass into the street.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

In which A law is seen to serve base purposes.

Maria has passed a night of unhappiness.  Hopes and fears are knelling in the morning, which brings nothing to relieve her anxiety for the absent one; and Mr. Snivel has taken the precaution to have the news of the lost ship find its way into the papers.