“If I thought, as you do, that my client is or has been connected with thieves, and burglars, and counterfeiters, I would not think of her for a moment as a wife. But there is a vast difference between a person overtaken by sudden temptation and one who sins on calculation, and by regular habit. Now, in my own case, I sometimes act wrong—yes, I admit as much as that——” “It is quite unnecessary,” said Williams, drily. “It is not according to Christian doctrine to visit old offences on a sinner’s head, when repentance has washed away the crime.” “Which means, Timms, that you will marry Mary Monson, although she may be guilty; provided always, that two very important contingencies are favourably disposed of.” “What contingencies do you allude to, Williams? I know of none.” “One is, provided she will have you; the other is, provided she is not hanged.” “As to the first, I have no great apprehension; women that have been once before a court, on a trial for a capital offence, are not very particular. On my side, it will be easy enough to persuade the public that, as counsel in a most interesting case, I became intimately acquainted with her virtues, touched by her misfortunes, captivated by her beauty and accomplishments, and finally overcome by her charms. I don’t think, Williams, that such an explanation would fail of its effect, before a caucus even. Men are always favourably disposed to those they think worse off than they are themselves. A good deal of capital is made on that principle.” “I do not know that it would. Now-a-days the elections generally turn more on public principles than on private conduct. The Americans are a most forgiving people, unless you tell them the _truth_. _That_ they will not pardon.” “Nor any other nation, I fancy. Human natur’ revolts at it. But _that_”—snapping his fingers—“for your elections; it is the caucuses that I lay myself out to meet. Give me the _nomination_, and I am as certain of my seat as, in the old countries, a first-born is to his father’s throne.” “It is pretty safe as a rule, I allow; but nominations sometimes fail.” “Not when regular, and made on proper principles. A nomination is almost as good as popularity.” “Often better; for men are just asses enough to work in the collar of party, even when overloaded. But all this time the night is wearing away. If I go into court in the morning, it will be too late. This thing must be settled at once, and that in a very explicit manner.” “I wish I knew what you have picked up concerning Mary Monson’s early life!” said Timms, like a man struggling with doubt. “You have heard the rumour as well as myself. Some say she is a wife already; while others think her a rich widow. My opinion you know; I believe her to be the stool-pigeon of a York gang, and no better than she should be.”