of such had blinded him to his real motives, and hence he had never dreamed that his object was to undermine the purity of a United States Senator.  He regretted that it was plain, now, that such was the man’s object and that punishment could not with safety to the Senate’s honor be withheld.  He grieved to say that one of those mysterious dispensations of an inscrutable Providence which are decreed from time to time by His wisdom and for His righteous, purposes, had given this conspirator’s tale a color of plausibility,—­but this would soon disappear under the clear light of truth which would now be thrown upon the case.

It so happened, (said the Senator,) that about the time in question, a poor young friend of mine, living in a distant town of my State, wished to establish a bank; he asked me to lend him the necessary money; I said I had no, money just then, but world try to borrow it.  The day before the election a friend said to me that my election expenses must be very large specially my hotel bills, and offered to lend me some money.  Remembering my young, friend, I said I would like a few thousands now, and a few more by and by; whereupon he gave me two packages of bills said to contain $2,000 and $5,000 respectively; I did not open the packages or count the money; I did not give any note or receipt for the same; I made no memorandum of the transaction, and neither did my friend.  That night this evil man Noble came troubling me again:  I could not rid myself of him, though my time was very precious.  He mentioned my young friend and said he was very anxious to have the $7000 now to begin his banking operations with, and could wait a while for the rest.  Noble wished to get the money and take it to him.  I finally gave him the two packages of bills; I took no note or receipt from him, and made no memorandum of the matter.  I no more look for duplicity and deception in another man than I would look for it in myself.  I never thought of this man again until I was overwhelmed the next day by learning what a shameful use he had made of the confidence I had reposed in him and the money I had entrusted to his care.  This is all, gentlemen.  To the absolute truth of every detail of my statement I solemnly swear, and I call Him to witness who is the Truth and the loving Father of all whose lips abhor false speaking; I pledge my honor as a Senator, that I have spoken but the truth.  May God forgive this wicked man as I do.

Mr. Noble—­“Senator Dilworthy, your bank account shows that up to that day, and even on that very day, you conducted all your financial business through the medium of checks instead of bills, and so kept careful record of every moneyed transaction.  Why did you deal in bank bills on this particular occasion?”

The Chairman—­“The gentleman will please to remember that the Committee is conducting this investigation.”

Mr. Noble—­“Then will the Committee ask the question?”