"`Honesty is a scarce commodity, young man,' said he, as he passed the leathern tongue of the book through the strap. `You have brought me my book without waiting till a reward was offered. I desired my clerk to offer twenty guineas in the advertisement--I will now give you a larger sum.' He sat down, opened a cheque-book, and wrote me a draft on his banker. It was for one hundred pounds! I was profuse in my acknowledgments, while he replaced his book in his inside-pocket, and buttoned up his coat. `Honesty is a scarce commodity, young man,' repeated he; `call here to-morrow at one o'clock, and I will see if I can be of any further service to you.' "I returned to my lodgings in a very thoughtful mood. I was astonished at the old man's generosity, and still more at my having honestly obtained so large a sum. I went to bed, and reflected on what had passed. The words of the old gentleman still rang in my ears--`Honesty is a scarce commodity.' I communed with myself. Here have I been nearly all my life, exercising all my talents, exerting all my energies in dishonest practices, and when did I, even at the most successful hit, obtain as much money as I have by an honest act? I recalled the many days of anxious waiting that I had found necessary to accomplish a scheme of fraud--the doubtful success--the necessity of satisfying my associates--the inability of turning into ready money the articles purloined until the hue and cry was over--the trifling sum which I was obliged to take from the purchasers of stolen articles, who knew that I was at their mercy--the destitute condition I occasionally was in--and the life of constant anxiety that I had led. These reflections forced the truth upon my mind, that there was more, in the end, to be gained by honesty than by roguery. "Once convinced, I determined to lead a new life, and from that moment I assumed as my motto, `Honesty is the best policy.' Do you hear, youngster?--`always be honest.'" CHAPTER ELEVEN. Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; Robes and furred gowns hide all. LEAR. Willy, who was tired out with the extreme mental and bodily exertion that he had undergone, gave no answer to McElvina's injunction, except a loud snore, which satisfied the captain that his caution in this instance was not heard. "Well," said Debriseau, after a short pause, "how long did this honest fit last?"