The Major only groaned. He took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow. The governor looked up from the paper-knife with which he was again trifling. "Am I to understand that the testimonial is to take the shape of a voluntary offering?" "Oh, sir! Of what value is a testimonial which is not voluntary?" "Quite so. How do you suggest it should be worded?" "May I ask you for paper, pens, and ink?" The prisoner bent over the table and wrote on the paper which was handed him. What he had written he passed to the governor. Mr. Paley found inscribed, in a beautifully fair round hand, as clear as copperplate, the following "testimonial":-- "The undersigned persons present their compliments to Colonel Gregory. Oliver Mankell, sentenced by Colonel Gregory to three months' hard labour, has been in Canterstone Jail two days. That short space of time has, however, convinced them that Colonel Gregory acted wrongly in distrusting his magic powers, and so casting a stain upon his character. This is to testify that he has proved, to the entire satisfaction of the undersigned inspector of prisons and officials of Canterstone Jail, that he is a magician of quite the highest class." "The signatures of all those present should be placed at the bottom," observed the prisoner, as the governor was reading the "testimonial." Apparently at a loss for words with which to comment upon the paper he had read, the governor handed it to the inspector. The Major shrank from taking it. "I--I'd rather not," he mumbled. "I think you had better read it," said the governor. Thus urged, the Major did read it. "Good Lord!" he gasped, and passed it to the doctor. The doctor silently, having read it, passed it to the chaplain. "I will read it aloud," said Mr. Hewett. He did so--for the benefit, probably, of Slater and Mr. Murray. "Supposing we were to sign that document, what would you propose to do with it?" inquired the governor. "I should convey it to Colonel Gregory." "Indeed! In that case he would have as high an opinion of our characters as of yours. And yourself--what sort of action might we expect from you?" "I should go." The governor's jaw dropped. "Go? Oh, would you!" "My character regained, for what have I to stop?" "Exactly. What have you? There's that point of view, no doubt. Well, Mankell, we will think the matter over." The prisoner dropped his hands to his sides, looking the governor steadily in the face. "Sir, I conceive that answer to convey a negative. The proposition thus refused will not be made again. It only remains for me to continue earnestly my endeavours to retrieve my character--until the three months are at an end."