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Show 318 RICIIAHD IIUUDIS. OIIAPTER XLV. TilE TOO CONSCWN'l' IOUS BROTHER. •·1 protest, ?Unug1·e tlty strrngth, youtlt, place nnd eminence, De!'pight. thy ·victor sword, nml fit-e new fot·tune, Thy vnlor fiiH1thy hcurL- Lholilll'L n lruitot·."-King Lear. ]\[v thoughts, in my bcrtlt that night, were oppressive enough. I had involved myself in the meshes of a formidable cons1)irncy, and was now liable to all its dangers. It mattered not to the public how pure were my real purposes, so long as the knowledge of them wus confined only to myself. rl'ilc cousciousucss of Yirtue may be a suflicicnt strcngtb cner of Ollc's rcsoh·c, but I donbt whether it most usually produces a perfect feeling of mental quiet. I know all was turmoil in my brain that night. I tosscll and tumbled, and could not sleep. Tilougltt was busy, as, indeed she bail need be. I had now full occasion for the exercise of all my wits. 'l'o entrap the black and bloated spiders in their own web was now my tn sk-to escape from it myself, my dilliculty. But I ltad sworn to axcnge \Villiam Carrington; and now, witl1 a less selfish feeling, l registered anotlter oath in heaven. In my next conversation with tlte parson, wl1o gave me, as his name, Clement Foster, though I doubt not- indeed I after· ward discovered --.,that ltc had twenty other names; I endeaY· ored, with all my art, to find out if ltc knew anytl~ing of ~\:ebbcr and his associates. To tlo this witltout provokmg susptcton, was a task requiring tlte utmost caution. 'J.'o a certain extent I succeeded. l found that \V cLber was one of his men, but I also discovered that he let me know nothing in pnrticulnruothing, the development of which might materially n?Cct lliS future plans, or lead to t he discovery of his past prOJects. I 'rilE TOO CQN:;;C I E~T IOU S JHWTIIF.R. 319 was evidently regartl('d ns onC', who, however well est imated, waR y('t .to uud?rgo thot'e trials ·which nlways prN:edc the confidence of the wJckod. l was yet required to conunit myself, bcfo~ ·c I could b,e recognised in a fellowship of riHk and profits wtth them. Ioste1· gave me to know, that there was a test to which I wou1fl be subj ected-a test depending on circumstances- not arbitrnry-and nty full nntl entire :ulmission to t] 1c frat ernity, woultl depend 0 11 the manner in ·w hi cl1 1 exccuteil my task. "You will hm·c to take a mail-bng, or shoot n11 obstinate fellow, who lws more money than brnins, througlt the head. Our tasks arc all adapted to tltc pnrticular chnmctcrs of our men. Gcntlen.1en bred, and of good education and fine fcclingr.;, will be rcq~urcd to do some bold action: our common rogncs 11.nd undcrlmgs are made to run a negro from l1 is master, or pick a pocket at a muster, or pass forged notes, or some small matter of that sort. You, however, will be suLjectcd to no such mean performances. I will sec to that." Here was consolation with a vengermce! I felt my check burn, and my !teart bound within me; Lut I was on t he lll:mk, aud the stel'll necessity sc]Joolcd me so, tl1at I was aLie to conceal nil my emotion. But I soon found that tltorc were other tests for me, and that my friendly parson was Hot yet so satisfied tl1at my virtue was of the desirable complexion. My brother-dandy sought me out one day before we rcarhed Cohun bus:- "I see,': snid hr, conficlentinlly, "that parson talking with you very fre~u cntly; and, as you seem to listen to ltim very resllectfully, I tl1ink it only an act of friendship to put you on your guard ngaiust ltim. Between us, he's a great rascal, I'm more than certain. I know him to be a l1ypocritc; and while I was last in Orlenns, tbero was a man advertised for passinO' forged notes, and the (lcscription given of the rogue :tuswcrs t~ a letter the appearance of tltis fellow." I thanked !tim for his kindn ess, but told him that I rmllly thought the parson a Yet-y gooll mau, and could not believe that he would be guilty of such an act as that ascribed to him. , "You'~·e mistaken," said he; "you're only too confiding, and I 11 convmcc you, if you'll only back me in wlwt I do. Stand |
