"'No; but comfort the murderer. I could not bear to see the pitiable misery he was in. He was far happier with the rope round his neck, than he was with the purse in his pocket. I saved him from killing himself too.' "'How did you make him confess?' "'Only by wallowing on the wall a little.' "'How could that make him tell?' "'_He_ knows.' "He was silent; and the king turned to another. "'I made a fashionable mother repent.' "'How?' broke from several voices, in whose sound was mingled a touch of incredulity. "'Only by making a little coffin on the wall,' was the reply. "'Did the fashionable mother then confess?' "'She had nothing more to confess than everybody knew.' "'What did everybody know then?' "'That she might have been kissing a living child, when she followed a dead one to the grave.--The next will fare better.' "'I put a stop to a wedding,' said another. "'Horrid shade!' remarked a poetic imp. "'How?' said others. 'Tell us how.' "'Only by throwing a darkness, as if from the branch of a sconce, over the forehead of a fair girl.--They are not married yet, and I do not think they will be. But I loved the youth who loved her. How he started! It was a revelation to him.' "'But did it not deceive him?' "'Quite the contrary.' "'But it was only a shadow from the outside, not a shadow coming through from the soul of the girl.' "'Yes. You may say so. But it was all that was wanted to let the meaning of her forehead come out--yes, of her whole face, which had now and then, in the pauses of his passion, perplexed the youth. All of it, curled nostrils, pouting lips, projecting chin, instantly fell into harmony with that darkness between her eyebrows. The youth understood it in a moment, and went home miserable. And they're not married _yet_.' "'I caught a toper alone, over his magnum of port,' said a very dark Shadow; 'and didn't I give it him! I made _delirium tremens_ first; and then I settled into a funeral, passing slowly along the whole of the dining-room wall. I gave him plenty of plumes and mourning coaches. And then I gave him a funeral service, but I could not manage to make the surplice white, which was all the better for such a sinner. The wretch stared till his face passed from purple to grey, and actually left his fifth glass only, unfinished, and took refuge with his wife and children in the drawing-room, much to their surprise. I believe he actually drank a cup of tea; and although I have often looked in again, I have never seen him drinking alone at least.' "'But does he drink less? Have you done him any good?' "'I hope so; but I am sorry to say I can't feel sure about it.' "'Humph! Humph! Humph!' grunted various shadow throats. "'I had such fun once!' cried another. 'I made such game of a young clergyman!' "'You have no right to make game of any one.' "'Oh yes, I have--when it is for his good. He used to study his sermons--where do you think?' "'In his study, of course.' "'Yes and no. Guess again.'