“He was frank enough, at all events, to own that he could not share my sense of embarrassment. He jeered a little at my pretension to be an example to my young officers, as well he might. I had selected an unlucky moment to advance such a claim; and then he handed me over my innings, with all the ease and indifference in life.” “I declare, Cave, I was expecting, to the very last moment, a different ending to your story. I waited to hear that he had handed you a bond of his wife's guardian, which for prudential reasons should not be pressed for prompt payment.” “Good heavens! what do you mean?” cried Cave, leaning over the table in intense eagerness. “Who could have told you this?” “Beresford told me; he brought me the very document once to my house with my own signature annexed to it,--an admirable forgery as ever was, done. My seal, too, was there. By bad luck, however, the paper was stolen from me that very night,--taken out of a locked portfolio. And when Beresford charged the fellow with the fraud, Sewell called him out and shot him.” Cave sat for several minutes like one stunned and overcome. He looked vacantly before him, but gave no sign of hearing or marking what was said to him. At last he arose, and, walking over to a table, unlocked his writing-desk, and took out a large packet, of which he broke the seal, and without examining the contents, handed it to Fossbrooke, saying,--“Is that like it?” “It is the very bond itself; there's my signature. I wish I wrote as good a hand now,” said he, laughing. “It is as I always said, Cave,” cried he, in a louder, fuller voice; “the world persists in calling this swindler a clever fellow, and there never was a greater mistake. The devices of the scoundrel are the very fewest imaginable; and he repeats his three or four tricks, with scarcely a change, throughout a life long.” “And this is a forgery!” muttered Cave, as he bent over the document and scanned it closely. “You shall see me prove it such. You 'll intrust me with it. I 'll promise to take better care of it this time.” “Of course. What do you mean to do?” “Nothing by course of law, Cave. So far I promise you, and I know it is of that you are most afraid. No, my good friend. If you never figure in a witness-box till brought there by _me_, you may snap your fingers for many a day at cross-examinations.” “This cannot be made the subject of a personal altercation,” said Cave, hesitatingly. “If you mean a challenge, certainly not; but it may be made the means of extricating Trafford from his difficulties with this man, and I can hardly see where and what these difficulties are.” “You allude to the wife?”