“Why,” replied Purcel, who, between ourselves, was a bit of a wag in his way, “it proceeds from the spirit of his office. Take a magistrate, for instance, as a man--a mere man; place him in the ordinary situations of society; let him ride home at night, for instance, through a disturbed district like this, which, if he is wise, he will avoid doing, or let him be seen in an isolated position even in daylight without protection, and you will find him a coward of the first shaking. On the contrary, place him, as a magistrate, at the head of a body of police or military, and where will you witness such courage? That, then, is the individual, I say, who being naturally a coward as a man, goes through his duty with courage as a magistrate; I say this is the individual whom the government should reward with especial favor.” “By the way, will you touch that bell again?--oh, here he comes. Sam,” he said, addressing a servant, “get me up a bottle of soda-wather. Will you have a glass of soda, John? I dipped a little too deep last night.” “No, sir, thank you,” replied Purcel, “I was moderate last night; and at all events soda is rather cold for such a day as this is.” “Well, then can't you stiffen it with a little brandy?” “No, thank you, I won't touch anything at present. I almost wish, as I was saying,” he proceeded, “that there was the slightest touch of cowardice in you, naturally; because if it could be proved in connection with your official intrepidity, you would deserve everything that a government could bestow upon you.” “Faith and honor, that is certainly putting the argument in an extremely new point of view, and I agree with you, John; that is--that--let me see--the more cowardly the man the braver the magistrate. Well, I don't know that aither.” “No, no!” replied John, “I don't mean that.” “Well, what do you mane? for I thought I undherstood you a while ago, although find that I don't now.” “I mean,” proceeded the other, “that when a man who is naturally cowardly--I don't mean, of course, a poltroon, but timid--proves himself to be firm, resolute, and intrepid in the discharge of his duties as a magistrate, such a man deserves a civic crown.” “A what?” “A civic crown. Of course you know what that is.” “Of coorse I do, John; and upon my honor and conscience there is great truth in what you say. I could name you a magistrate who, I believe, as a magistrate, could not very aisily be bate, and yet who, without being a downright coward, is for all that no hairo to his valley de sham, as they say.”