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Aldersgate?" cries Allworthy. "And was you in company with this lawyerand the two fellows?"--"I was, sir," said the other, "very near halfan hour." "Well, sir," said Allworthy, "and in what manner did thelawyer behave? did you hear all that past between him and thefellows?" "No, sir," answered Nightingale, "they had been togetherbefore I came.--In my presence the lawyer said little; but, after Ihad several times examined the fellows, who persisted in a storydirectly contrary to what I had heard from Mr Jones, and which I findby Mr Fitzpatrick was a rank falshood, the lawyer then desired thefellows to say nothing but what was the truth, and seemed to speak somuch in favour of Mr Jones, that, when I saw the same person with you,I concluded your goodness had prompted you to send him thither."--"Anddid you not send him thither?" says Mrs Miller.--"Indeed I did not,"answered Allworthy; "nor did I know he had gone on such an errand tillthis moment."--"I see it all!" said Mrs Miller, "upon my soul, I seeit all! No wonder they have been closeted so close lately. SonNightingale, let me beg you run for these fellows immediately----findthem out if they are above-ground. I will go myself"--"Dear madam,"said Allworthy, "be patient, and do me the favour to send a servantupstairs to call Mr Dowling hither, if he be in the house, or, if not,Mr Blifil." Mrs Miller went out muttering something to herself, andpresently returned with an answer, "That Mr Dowling was gone; but thatthe t'other," as she called him, "was coming."Allworthy was of a cooler disposition than the good woman, whosespirits were all up in arms in the cause of her friend. He was nothowever without some suspicions which were near akin to hers. WhenBlifil came into the room, he asked him with a very seriouscountenance, and with a less friendly look than he had ever beforegiven him, "Whether he knew anything of Mr Dowling's having seen anyof the persons who were present at the duel between Jones and anothergentleman?"There is nothing so dangerous as a question which comes by surprize ona man whose business it is to conceal truth, or to defend falshood.For which reason those worthy personages, whose noble office it is tosave the lives of their fellow-creatures at the Old Bailey, take theutmost care, by frequent previous examination, to divine everyquestion which may be asked their clients on the day of tryal, thatthey may be supplyed with proper and ready answers, which the mostfertile invention cannot supply in an instant. Besides, the sudden andviolent impulse on the blood, occasioned by these surprizes, causesfrequently such an alteration in the countenance, that the man isobliged to give evidence against himself. And such indeed were thealterations which the countenance of Blifil underwent from this suddenquestion, that we can scarce blame the eagerness of Mrs Miller, whoimmediately cryed out, "Guilty, upon my honour! guilty, upon my soul!"Mr Allworthy sharply rebuked her for this impetuosity; and thenturning to Blifil, who seemed sinking into the earth, he said, "Why doyou hesitate, sir, at giving me an answer? You certainly must haveemployed him; for he would not, of his own accord, I believe, haveundertaken such an errand, and especially without acquainting me."Blifil then answered, "I own, sir, I have been guilty of an offence,yet may I hope your pardon?"--"My pardon," said Allworthy, veryangrily.--"Nay, sir," answered Blifil, "I knew you would be offended;yet surely my dear uncle will forgive the effects of the most amiableof human weaknesses. Compassion for those who do not deserve it, I ownis a crime; and yet it is a crime from which you yourself are not