"Oh, that's all right among friends, ain't it, Ant'ny? He knows me better, and Mary, too, than you do, so let's drop all that, sir; and now I want to talk serious to you about this here affair. I feel, sir, as a sergeant of police, that I oughtn't to rest till I've brought that chap to justice." I saw Hallett start and change colour. Then, getting up, he began to walk up and down the room, ending by coming and laying his hand upon Revitts' shoulder. "Revitts," he said, "that man has done you a very serious injury." "Never mind about that, Mr Hallett, sir; I dare say I shall put that square. I was thinking about you." "Yes, and he has done me a deadly injury," said Hallett, in a low, dreamy voice; "but I cannot retaliate. You will think me strange and weak perhaps; but I cannot take any steps toward punishing this man." Revitts looked disappointed. "I'd been hoping, sir," he said, "that you'd got to know who I was, and could give me a hint or two, so that I could put my ban upon him. You know who it is, sir?" Hallett looked at him searchingly, and a deep frown came upon his forehead. "Yes," he said, "I know who it is; but for many reasons I cannot stir in the matter. Besides, what could I do? He has committed no punishable offence against me." "No, that's true," said Revitts quickly; "but he has against me. Assaulting the police is 'most as bad as high-treason, and if you'll give me his name, sir, or put me in the way of getting a hand on him, I'll give him a twelvemonths' imprisonment." Hallett shook his head. "No, Revitts," he said, "I look upon him as my most deadly enemy, and some day I may take the scoundrel by the throat, but I cannot help you here." "Now, that's where you're wrong, sir, if you'll 'scuse me. A man mustn't take the law into his own hands. You think better of it, sir. You can't punish, though he richly deserves it, but I can; and if ever I get a chance, I will." Revitts soon after rose to go, Mary having announced her intention of sitting up all night with Linny, and Hallett and I were left alone. "No, Antony," he said, looking me in the face, just as if I had spoken to him on the subject. "My hands are tied: John Lister must go free. I can do nothing." "He deserves flogging!" I exclaimed, "and I feel that I ought to tell Miss Carr." He started, and half turned away. "Have you told Miss Carr, Antony?" "No," I said, "I can't be so mean; but she ought to know, for she believes him to be very true and honourable. I wish some one would tell her. Can't you?" "I? Tell Miss Carr? Antony, are you mad?" he cried, with a show of excitement that I could not understand. "No, I could not tell her. What would she think of me?" "Yes, she is so high-minded and good," I replied, "that she would think anybody a miserable talebearer who told her what a scoundrel Mr Lister is. I don't think she would believe it, either." "No," he said softly, "she could not believe such a thing of the man she loves."