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his nephew concerning them ;
ceal anything."
and you have no right to con-
riaht sum into the bank before three o'clock this afternoon.
That is enough for me to think of at present."
"There comes James Gardener. He is punctual," said
Father Josph.
There was no time to be lost. As soon as he was seated Pe-
"
ter began. I have sent for you because I thought your sig-
nature might be wanted ; but first of all" he looked straight
into James' face with his honest courageous eyes "it is no
use mincing matters, and the plainest words are easiest understood.
Yesterday you induced Frederick Drake to steal ninety-seven
pounds of his uncle's money, and you received the
same, knowing it to be stolen. In fact, by threats and hard
talking you made Fred steal it. It must be repaid. It must
be in the bank to-day. If not paid to-day, I shall charge both
Fred Drake and you before the magistrate."
" You speak loud, young man."
"
No, I do not," said Peter. "But I speak plainly, as I
must speak. I have here all Fred Drake's accounts with you ;
every letter and every document is in my possession. All that
has been going on between you is now come to an end. But
Mr. Breward's money is my concern, and must be this day refunded.
Where is the money ?"
" Youh ve no proof that lever had it."
"You deny it?"
" I said you had no proof."
" Then I give you in charge." Peter rose from his seat, and
said, "May I drive back in your pony-carriage, Father Joseph
? I shall scarcely be in time if I walk you know what I
mean."
Peter looked very pale.
Then Father Joseph spoke, "Gardener," he said, "your
own conscience is your best adviser. You received this mou-
ey?"
" He owed me that, and more."
" That is, young Drake owed you that, and more ?"
" But I won't convict myself."
" He has given you up Drake has. Peter Sands wants to
that and more. But I cannot repay it to-day. I have to give
three (lays' notice where I have placed it. It is ut in my
power to raise ninety-seven pounds by three o'clock." The
mnn who now saw his position, betrayed his misery by a sob.
"I must abide the consequences. I can't do it. I could do it
lays hence, and I will do it. Won't that do ?"
" We cannot have any secret about it," wiid Father Jaseph.
" This youth, this Peter Sands, whose life you saved, <
to cover the debt by money of his own, wbich you, and I, as
his trustees, could enable him to get Ihii afternoon. To-mor-
CHAPTEB V.
" Did you intend to try to keep this repayment of Mr.
Breward's money a secret always f" asked Father Joseph of
Peter the next niorniug, as they sat together after Mass.
"
I did, though I hate "
secrets," suid Peter. If Fred
would tell his uncle himself that he had stolen his money I
should like him all the better for it. For myself I still wish
two things not to be the means of ; ruining James Gardener
I wish to hide his sin, and to make amends for it and I
;
wish by this act to bring him to come to an immediate settlement
with Fred, and to deliver Fred from temptation in
future. As to the nv.:ney, I don't care about that. Fred may
repay me if he pleases, and if ever he is able to do so and
;
even Gardener may refund the money perhaps he will. The
real use of my money is that, with your help, I can put the
row is the day, as ho has told me, on v, hich he sees and signs
the bank-books iu Mr. Breward's place. He desires to shield
you, knowing the ruin that exposure must bring on ; you hut
by this act ho not only wishes to save your chanie er,
but he wishes to conceal yesterday's theft I c.dl it
by no milder name from Mr. Breward. Hut I will not
consent to hits misleading Mr. Breward. His employer has a
right to know what he knows. So I only mention Peter's
wishes to convince you of his good-wLl. I refuse my consent
to any secrecy between him and his employer. By your own
act the money can be placed to Mr. Breward's account three
days hence. Mr. Breward will have the circumstances point, d
out to him, and the wrong day of paymsnt will be explained
in the oizly honorable way by tell.ng him the truth. The
ninety-seven pounds wi.l appear in the next month's account
with the bank, and not in this month's account this month's
account will be made up to-morrow."
It would be impossible to imagine anything more utterly
fallen and miserable than was James Garden r's whole appearance
and manner. He would have given up all his ill-gotten
gains, from the first beginning of his evil courses, to keep the
transactions of the morning before from Mr. Breward. Ke
said that he knew Mr. Breward's disposition, his severity, his
determination of character, and that he would never forgive
him for having had anything to do with his nephew, or inter-
fering wi.h his affairs.
It wrung Peter's heart to listen to him.
But Father Joseph was firui and resolute.
"
I can do no other than I have said. You must make out
an order for the ninety-seven, pounds before you leave tius
house and ; you and I must go together to the bank where you
have deposited your money without delay. In this way pub ic
exposure may be saved ; and hen Mr. Breward arranges his
nephew's affairs with y u, which he will do on his reti-.rn I
shall hasten his return, if possible you will lind, I think,
that you can trust hia kindness. He will neither wish to expose
his nephew nor you."
Peter had not had to say more than a few words. The priest's
pony was harnessed, and a'.l three left the house together.
James Gardener, accompanied by Father Joseph, weut to tae
bank where he deposited money, and arranged for the ninetyseven
pounds to be paid to Mr. Breward's account a; the bank
at Treddington in three day's time; and then Gardener went
b ck to Penwarne on foot, and Father Joseph drove to Miss
Lance's hou e to tell Peter that the thing was done.
At kind Miss Lance's he found Peter involved in another dis-
tress. Drake had been there to find Peter, and hear ng of his
having gone to Fat..er Joseph, he had exhibited so much distress
that the dear ladies had tried to c mf. rt him, and of
course asked what was the mat er; and Frederick D.ake h-ul
told all. It almost made Father Joseph laugh to see Peter's
keep this last act, in which the bank and Mr. Breward are concerned,
separate from all private accounts which may lie between
you and Drake. This can only be done by refunding
the money. It is right for you to do so."
"I can't, sir."
It seemed that this wretched man was unable to do other
than utter the truth in the presence of God's priest.
" Do you realize the consequences ? Peter Sands 'cannot do
other than have the culprit secured. He cannot join in cheating
Mr. Breward. "
face as he said:
"
I couldn't have kept the th'ng quiet, however much I had
tried. While I was planning the way to make restitution iu
seer t, Frederick was explaining it all."
For James Gardener's sake, Fathtr Joseph now told Frederick
Drake to hold his tongue.
"We can depend on both of you, "he said to the good ladies;
" and I command Frederick, in honor's name, to hold his
"
I do not deny that I took the money, because he owed me
tonpue."
"You arc no better than Gardener," he said to Fred. "You
have no right to (ling a stone at tim. You were wil.iug
imd glad t ) be tempted. If you were a Catholic, i. y poor
young friend, I should speak differently. But this I c.
to yon th.t people wlio, to show their own peni euce, betray
the s us of their neighbors, are not ot'tc H lieLi veil in. Don't
talk about Jam .; think of ot rue
that, if you hud not beeu *
l' J
'
(
'y,
ho would not havu