services? Dark and criminal old man, would you make an accomplice

of my youth and my distress?"
The Doctor bitterly laughed.

"You are difficult to please, Mr. Scuddamore," said he; "but I now
offer you your choice of company between the murdered man and the

murderer. If your conscience is too nice to accept my aid, say so,
and I will immediately leave you. Thenceforward you can deal with

your trunk and its belongings as best suits your upright
conscience."

"I own myself wrong," replied Silas. "I should have remembered how
generously you offered to shield me, even before I had convinced

you of my innocence, and I continue to listen to your counsels with
gratitude."

"That is well," returned the Doctor; "and I perceive you are
beginning to learn some of the lessons of experience."

"At the same time," resumed the New-Englander, "as you confess
yourself accustomed o this tragical business, and the people to

whom you recommend me are your own former associates and friends,
could you not yourself undertake the transport of the box, and rid

me at once of its detested presence?"
"Upon my word," replied the Doctor, "I admire you cordially. If

you do not think I have already meddled sufficiently in your
concerns, believe me, from my heart I think the contrary. Take or

leave my services as I offer them; and trouble me with no more
words of gratitude, for I value your consideration even more

lightly than I do your intellect. A time will come, if you should
be spared to see a number of years in health of mind, when you will

think differently of all this, and blush for your to-night's
behaviour."

So saying, the Doctor arose from his chair, repeated his directions
briefly and clearly, and departed from the room without permitting

Silas any time to answer.
The next morning Silas presented himself at the hotel, where he was

politely received by Colonel Geraldine, and relieved, from that
moment, of all immediate alarm about his trunk and its grisly

contents. The journey passed over without much incident, although
the young man was horrified to overhear the sailors and railway

porters complaining among themselves about the unusual weight of
the Prince's baggage. Silas travelled in a carriage with the

valets, for Prince Florizel chose to be alone with his Master of
the Horse. On board the steamer, however, Silas attracted his

Highness's attention by the melancholy of his air and attitude as
he stood gazing at the pile of baggage; for he was still full of

disquietude about the future.
"There is a young man," observed the Prince, "who must have some

cause for sorrow."
"That," replied Geraldine, "is the American for whom I obtained

permission to travel with your suite."
"You remind me that I have been remiss in courtesy," said Prince

Florizel, and advancing to Silas, he addressed him with the most
exquisite condescension in these words:- "I was charmed, young sir,

to be able to gratify the desire you made known to me through
Colonel Geraldine. Remember, if you please, that I shall be glad

at any future time to lay you under a more serious obligation."
And he then put some questions as to the political condition of

America, which Silas answered with sense and propriety.
"You are still a young man," said the Prince; "but I observe you to

be very serious for your years. Perhaps you allow your attention
to be too much occupied with grave studies. But, perhaps, on the

other hand, I am myself indiscreet and touch upon a painful
subject."

"I have certainly cause to be the most miserable of men," said
Silas; "never has a more innocent person been more dismally

abused."
"I will not ask you for your confidence," returned Prince Florizel.

"But do not forget that Colonel Geraldine's recommendation is an
unfailing passport; and that I am not only willing, but possibly

more able than many others, to do you a service."
Silas was delighted with the amiability of this great personage;

but his mind soon returned upon its gloomy preoccupations; for not
even the favour of a Prince to a Republican can charge" target="_blank" title="vt.&n.卸货；释放；解雇">discharge a

brooding spirit of its cares.
The train arrived at Charing Cross, where the officers of the

Revenue respected the baggage of Prince Florizel in the usual
manner. The most elegant equipages were in waiting; and Silas was

driven, along with the rest, to the Prince's residence. There
Colonel Geraldine sought him out, and expressed himself pleased to

have been of any service to a friend of the physician's, for whom
he professed a great consideration.

"I hope," he added, "that you will find none of your porcelain
injured. Special orders were given along the line to deal tenderly

with the Prince's effects."
And then, directing the servants to place one of the carriages at

the young gentleman's disposal, and at once to charge the Saratoga
trunk upon the dickey, the Colonel shook hands and excused himself

on account of his occupations in the princely household.
Silas now broke the seal of the envelopecontaining the address,

and directed the statelyfootman to drive him to Box Court, opening
off the Strand. It seemed as if the place were not at all unknown

to the man, for he looked startled and begged a repetition of the
order. It was with a heart full of alarms, that Silas mounted into

the luxuriousvehicle, and was driven to his destination. The
entrance to Box Court was too narrow for the passage of a coach; it

was a mere footway between railings, with a post at either end. On
one of these posts was seated a man, who at once jumped down and

exchanged a friendly sign with the driver, while the footman opened
the door and inquired of Silas whether he should take down the

Saratoga trunk, and to what number it should be carried.
"If you please," said Silas. "To number three."

The footman and the man who had been sitting on the post, even with
the aid of Silas himself, had hard work to carry in the trunk; and

before it was deposited at the door of the house in question, the
young American was horrified to find a score of loiterers looking

on. But he knocked with as good a countenance as he could muster
up, and presented the other envelope to him who opened.

"He is not at home," said he, "but if you will leave your letter
and return to-morrow early, I shall be able to inform you whether

and when he can receive your visit. Would you like to leave your
box?" he added.

"Dearly," cried Silas; and the next moment he repented his
precipitation, and declared, with equal emphasis, that he would

rather carry the box along with him to the hotel.
The crowd jeered at his indecision and followed him to the carriage

with insulting remarks; and Silas, covered with shame and terror,
implored the servants to conduct him to some quiet and comfortable

house of entertainment in the immediate neighbourhood.
The Prince's equipage deposited Silas at the Craven Hotel in Craven

Street, and immediately drove away, leaving him alone with the
servants of the inn. The only vacant room, it appeared, was a

little den up four pairs of stairs, and looking towards the back.
To this hermitage, with infinite trouble and complaint, a pair of

stout porters carried the Saratoga trunk. It is needless to
mention that Silas kept closely at their heels throughout the

ascent, and had his heart in his mouth at every corner. A single
false step, he reflected, and the box might go over the banisters

and land its fatal contents, plainly discovered, on the pavement of
the hall.

Arrived in the room, he sat down on the edge of his bed to recover
from the agony that he had just endured; but he had hardly taken

his position when he was recalled to a sense of his peril by the
action of the boots, who had knelt beside the trunk, and was

proceeding officiously to undo its elaborate fastenings.
"Let it be!" cried Silas. "I shall want nothing from it while I

stay here."
"You might have let it lie in the hall, then," growled the man; "a