This said, the conference broke off: the companions proceeded on their way, and Davis shaped his course towards the mansion of De Lancaster. When there arrived and admitted to an audience in the library, he stated facts rather more circumstantially from the chair than he had done from the saddle, and having concluded, the old gentleman remained silent for some time, pondering in his mind the measures he should take: at length, breaking forth in a tone, that bespoke his resolution formed, he said--Davis, we must save this wretched young man, if it be possible. He, who has dabbled in the blood of an animal, may be wrought by desperation to attempt the life of a fellow creature: he is young, and may be turned to better thoughts; I am old, and must not be extreme in justice: Furthermore, I must confess to you, Davis, that I am not quite reconciled to the means we have taken for eliciting this information from a scoundrel dog-feeder by the lure of a reward. Your law, I know, allows it; but your law and my conscience do not always harmonize. This very fellow, whom we have paid for confessing the act, was probably paid also for committing it: that is a traffic in iniquity, which I am sorry to have countenanced. However I will write to Mrs. David Owen, who in her twofold capacity of mother and guardian, seems the properest person to recall this young offender to a due contrition for his offence. I should doubt that, Davis replied; I am much afraid, worthy sir, you would not mend your chance by that appeal; for I have another unlucky evidence in my possession of a damned Jew’s trick in the article of the diamond ring-- Speak to the point, friend Davis, said the old gentleman, but spare your expletives; for oaths are not ornaments to an honest man’s discourse-- I ask pardon, rejoined Davis; but really, sir, when one hears of such scandalous practices, as are carried on in that family between mother and son, it is enough to make a parson swear-- I should hope not, said De Lancaster; but what do you allude to?-- Why you must know, replied the lawyer, I had my suspicions that all was not right in the going of the diamond ring, bequeathed to Madam Cecilia, and reported _non est inventus_; so it came into my mind, that it might not be amiss to put the old proverb into practice, and set a thief to catch a thief-- Speak, if you please, without a proverb, said the good old man; I shall comprehend you better; for in my opinion, Mr. Davis, when our conversation is to turn upon thieves, the sooner it is concluded, so that we may dismiss them from our thoughts, the better it will be for us both. CHAPTER IV. _The Humanity of De Lancaster is not permitted to obtain its End._