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Having effected this, they agreed to lounge on the Place d'Armes till sunset, when they took possession of one of the benches. McElvina and Debriseau lighted their cigars, and puffed away in silence, while Willy amused himself with watching the promenaders as they passed in review before him.
"Once more by the laws of our country, the receiver is as bad as the thief, and they who instigate others to commit an offence are equally guilty with the offending party." "It cannot be denied," replied Debriseau. "Then you have acceded to all the propositions that I wish, and we shall come to an undeniable and mathematical conclusion. Observe, law-makers should not be law-breakers.
Seymour looked at him earnestly, and thought he could not well be mistaken, long as it was since they had been in company. "Excuse me but I think we once met at Cherbourg. Is not your name Debriseau?" "Sacristie!" replied the Frenchman, seizing himself by the hair, "je suis connu! And who are you?"
"And now, McElvina," resumed Debriseau, "I should like to know by what arguments your employer contrived to reconcile your present vocation with your punctilious regard for honesty?
"I trust I have done him injustice," replied Debriseau; "but I saw that in his eye, during the interview, which chilled my blood when I thought of your young friend." "At all events, when I go up to-morrow morning to see how Seymour is, I think it will be right to inform Mr Rainscourt of the facts. I shall be there by daylight. Will you accompany me, sir?" said McElvina to the vicar.
I shall go to prison with some resignation, now that I know you have been so fortunate; and do me not the injustice to imagine that you will ever be troubled by either seeing or hearing from me." "I waited for this answer, Debriseau: had you made any other, I would have run the risk and defied you; nothing would have induced me to have offered to bribe your silence.
"So do I," replied McElvina; "but the injustice of his accusation prevented me; and I must confess that I have some pleasure in allowing him to remain twenty-four hours in suspense longer than that, not even my revenge has stomach for." "I am afraid," observed Debriseau, "that we have done unwisely.
Why, it has lasted, Captain Debriseau, it has lasted until now; and shall last, too, as long as this frame of mine shall hold together. But to proceed. The next morning I called upon the old gentleman according to his request. He again told me, `honesty was a scarce commodity. I could have informed him that it had always been so with me, but I kept my own counsel.
"How! oh, I was unlucky after McElvina went away, and I thought, on reflection, notwithstanding his arguments, that it was a dishonest sort of concern. Being pretty well acquainted with the coasts, I shipped on board as pilot." "But, Debriseau, are you not a native of Guernsey, which is part of the British dominions?"
Worthy magistrate, if you would hold the scales of Justice with an even hand, make out one more mittimus before you sit down to table. Send your wife to languish a twelvemonth in company with the poor smugglers, and then `to dinner with what appetite you may. And now, Debriseau, have I convinced you that I may follow my present calling, and still say `be honest?"
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