Brandon never could have degenerated into a miser; money, to one so habitually wise as he was, could never have passed from means into an object; but he had evidently, for some cause or another, formed the resolution to save. Some said it was the result of returning health, and the hope of a prolonged life, to which many objects for which wealth is desirable might occur. But when it was accidentally ascertained that Brandon had been making several inquiries respecting a large estate in the neighbourhood of Warlock, formerly in the possession of his family, the gossips (for Brandon was a man to be gossiped about) were no longer in want of a motive, false or real, for the judge's thrift. It was shortly after his elevation to the bench, and ere these signs of change had become noticeable, that the same strange ragamuffin whom we have mentioned before, as introduced by Mr. Swoppem to a private conference with Brandon, was admitted to the judge's presence. “Well,” said Brandon, impatiently, the moment the door was closed, “your news?” “Vy, your 'onor,” said the man, bashfully, twirling a thing that stood proxy for a hat, “I thinks as 'ow I shall be hable to satisfy your vorship's 'onor.'!” Then, approaching the judge and assuming an important air, he whispered, “'T is as 'ow I thought!” “My God!” cried Brandon, with vehemence. “And he is alive,--and where?” “I believes,” answered the seemly confidant of Sir William Brandon, “that he be's alive; and if he be's alive, may I flash my ivories in a glass case, if I does not ferret him out; but as to saying vhere he be at this nick o' the moment, smash me if I can!” “Is he in this country,” said Brandon; “or do you believe that he has gone abroad?” “Vy, much of one and not a little of the other!” said the euphonious confidant. “How! speak plain, man; what do you mean?” “Vy, I means, your 'oner, that I can't say vhere he is.” “And this,” said Brandon, with a muttered oath,--“this is your boasted news, is it? Dog! damned, damned dog! if you trifle with me or play me false, I will hang you,--by the living God, I will!” The man shrank back involuntarily from Brandon's vindictive forehead and kindled eyes; but with the cunning peculiar to low vice, answered, though in a humbler tone,-- “And vet good vill that do your 'oner? If so be as how you scrags I, will that put your vorship in the vay of finding he?” Never was there an obstacle in grammar through which a sturdy truth could not break; and Brandon, after a moody pause, said in a milder voice,-- “I did not mean to frighten you! Never mind what I said; but you can surely guess whereabouts he is, or what means of life he pursues. Perhaps,”--and a momentary paleness crossed Brandon's swarthy visage,--“perhaps he may have been driven into dishonesty in order to maintain himself!”