, be read backwards. Poor Standfast! I thought he knew mankind better.'

Next, who will believe but the unmanly attack upon your brother's life, at Lisle, after introducing him into company to ridicule and exasperate him, was concerted that you might become heir to your father's title and fortune. Indeed nothing can be so clear, for in France the murder would have been considered as a rencounter, and in England it would not have been punishable.

'Well argued, Master Standfast,' said Figgins; 'Why he is an altered man. I am cursedly mistaken if he did not practise in his youth very nearly as bad actions as those of which he only accuses you; and yet I believe this is the first time he ever preached upon such a subject.'
—'This is deep laid villany indeed,' said Charles; 'but go on Mr. Figgins.'

As to your next material crime—for I shall pass over what may with propriety be pardonable on the score of youth and inexperience
—'very civil, upon my soul,' said Figgins—
what could

induce you to do the very thing of all others, which was most likely to incense Sir Sidney Roebuck,
—'Ay,' said Figgins, 'what could that be?'—
to assist in stealing a nun from a convent
—'Whew!' said Figgins. 'What is our civility to honest Combrie so construed? And yet dam'me if this same Mr. Standfast did not steal a nun upon his own account, in his youth; and, if report says true, she broke her heart through his ill usage. But against himself he would have you believe report tells lies. Why then is it to be believed against his friend? But one man may steal a horse:—Never mind it Charles:—you have been rascally treated indeed.'
To assist in stealing a nun from a convent, must of course prove an immoveable bar to his farther favour. Had not his own virtue resisted the same action in his youth, the mother of Annette might have been now his wife; for then perhaps she would not have pined herself to death for love of him in her retirement.

'Here I believe,' said Charles, 'he speaks truth, and had I been guilty of this crime, Sir Sidney would never have pardoned it.'
'But mark,' said Figgins, 'what a curious gentleman Mr. Stand fast is. He takes a lie, establishes it as a fact,

and then argues upon it as if it were