“Oh, mother! do not talk so cruelly to papa. I know his heart is broken. I am sure that he believed himself right when he made the statement that his brother was dead. He did not dream that his brother was alive, or that he would ever hear of him again.” “Gertie, go along with your mother. I will suffer alone.” “I will share it with you, papa. Good-bye.” “Mr. Pearson, I shall place you in the second room here, and I shall call in the officials for consultation and see what can be done. I regret very much to have to do so, but it is my duty.” “I am a prisoner here, and shall obey your rules. I will step inside. You may take me in. I shall not cause you any unnecessary trouble.” “Well, I have got a job, to turn the key on the gentleman. I’ll just step in. I feel I have saved meself a good many steps by finding meself a resting-place so near.” It was Pat, talking to himself. “I was just turning to call for you, Pat.” “Well, I am here.” “You may see that water is in the room for Pearson, then lock the door.” “I will do that, your honor, with pleasure. Where is the man to occupy the room?” “He has stepped in there, Pat.” “Very obliging, he is. I think that bating did him some good. “Here is some water for you, sir, and if you want annything, call me. Or have I given you all you wanted me to—faith, I mane in the way of a bating? “The poor fellow sits there with his head down as though I had never said a word to him, so I’ll lock him in and let him slape it off.” “Pat, I am going to call in the high officials to-day, and I want you to be present; I am going to call on you for some of your knowledge.” “How in the devil do you know where my knowledge-place is? You may have it all and I will find me another resting-place.” “Pat, you do not understand me. I meant that you must tell what you know about this Pearson and his brother. Explain what you mean by giving me all the place of knowledge.” “Well, your honor, you see I have been wanted here and there so manny times I found meself a resting-place outside of this office, so I could be here when you wanted me—and when you didn’t want me.” “Do you call that a ‘knowledge-place’? I should call it a ‘resting-place.’” “I rested while I was getting my knowledge.” “You were reading, were you?” “Devil a bit did I read.” “How, then, did you get your knowledge?” “Well, if you have things that you try to keep from hearing—and indade I tried to keep from hearing the poor family crying, I was dropping a few tears meself—then—” “You heard the conversation, did you?”