with his land that he was hardly able to provide bread for himself and his children.  He went so far as to insinuate that he was taking up this matter himself solely on the score of charity, adding that as he could not of course afford to be money out of pocket for expenses of witnesses, etc, he did not quite see how he was to proceed.  Then the Senator made certain promises.  He was, he said, going back to London in the course of next week, but he did not mind making himself responsible to the extent of fifty dollars if the thing were carried on, bona fide, to a conclusion.  Mr. Bearside declared that it would of course be bona fide, and asked the Senator for his address.  Would Mr. Gotobed object to putting his name to a little docket certifying to the amount promised?  Mr. Gotobed gave an address, but thought that in such a matter as that his word might be trusted.  If it were not trusted then the offer might fall to the ground.  Mr. Bearside was profuse in his apologies and declared that the gentleman’s word was as good as his bond.

Mr. Gotobed made no secret of his doings.  Perhaps he had a feeling that he could not justify himself in so strange a proceeding without absolute candour.  He saw Mr. Mainwaring in the street as he left Bearside’s office and told him all about it.  “I just want, sir, to see what’ll come of it”

“You’ll lose your fifty dollars, Mr. Gotobed, and only cause a little vexation to a high-spirited young nobleman.”

“Very likely, sir.  But neither the loss of my dollars, nor Lord Rufford’s slight vexation will in the least disturb my rest.  I’m not a rich man, sir, but I should like to watch the way in which such a question will be tried and brought to a conclusion in this aristocratic country.  I don’t quite know what your laws may be, Mr. Mainwaring.”

“Just the same as your own, Mr. Gotobed, I take it”

“We have no game laws, sir.  As I was saying I don’t understand your laws, but justice is the same everywhere.  If this great lord’s game has eaten up the poor man’s wheat the great lord ought to pay for it.”

“The owners of game pay for the damage they do three times over,” said the parson, who was very strongly on that side of the question.  “Do you think that such men as Goarly would be better off if the gentry were never to come into the country at all?”

“Perhaps, Mr. Mainwaring, I may think that there would be no Goarlys if there were no Ruffords.  That, however, is a great question which cannot be argued on this case.  All we can hope here is that one poor man may have an act of justice done him though in seeking for it he has to struggle against so wealthy a magnate as Lord Rufford.”

“What I hope is that he may be found out,” replied Mr. Mainwaring with equal enthusiasm, “and then he will be in Rufford gaol before long.  That’s the justice I look for.  Who do you think put down the poison in Dillsborough wood?”

“How was it that the poor woman lost all her geese?” asked the Senator.