“And now, sir,” said he, “hoping to find you the gentleman I take you for, when you have quaffed a drop of this, which will no doubt do you good, pray tell me what the matter is, and who it is that seeks to take advantage of me?”

“Astor House,” replied the man, dryly.  “The proprietors are as good, generous fellows as can be found; but they have a way of wanting their own.  They direct me to treat you as becomes a gentleman.  And now, sir, my name is Tom Flanders; and if you will say how you propose to settle this little affair?”

The major tossed and scratched his head, hitched up his breeches, and seemed to have rolled his thoughts into a state of deep study, in which he remained until the visitor’s patience was well nigh worn out.

“My time, if you please to consider it,” replied the man, “is money!” Here he read the writ, and the affidavit affixed thereto.

“Upon my soul,” the major replied, drawing his chair nearer the man, and extending his hand, “we can settle this affair, and be the best of friends!  It’s an old stick, but that does not matter; and you have said the truth of those gentlemen of the Astor, whose courtesy it was not right of me to forget, though they did me the honor, when a guest at their house, to say it might suit my position and economy better to take private board.”

“It’s only one hundred and thirty-seven dollars and costs.  The interest, they were good enough to say, should be thrown in, which is something,” muttered the man.

There was Mr. Councilman Dinnis Finnigan, alias Greeley Hanniford, who had “done him out” of the money intended for this very bill.  Perhaps, thought the major, having come councilman, he will feel like making me an atonement, who knows?  “Upon my reputation, sir, I have hit, (yes, I have,) I have hit on a way of settling this little matter between us!” said he, with an air of exultation.  “There is one Councilman Finnigan, who not many years ago, (I say it in confidence,) and when he was an honest Quaker, and went by the name of Greeley Hanniford, did very unkindly do me out of all my money.  Only the other day I jogged his memory concerning this matter, and if he is come an honest man, he will consider my needs.  And seeing that the city, in reward for his past deeds, has made him one of its happy fathers, I take it he has straightened his morals, and become a good christian.”

The major here paused, and then inquired of the official if he would condescend to accompany him to the residence of Councilman Finnigan.  The officer, in return immediately declared his readiness to proceed with him; at the same time begged to remind him that the journey would be to no purpose; for though the city fathers were fond enough of the city pie, and always made out to keep their fingers in it, they took good care no one else got a sop of the sauce.  As to expecting justice of Councilman Finnigan for a past wrong, it was as well to look for gold on Barren Island.