122 NORTHEEN BUSSIA. 



Mr. S. instantly handed the pistol to the policen,&n f 

 And asked him to examine and decide for himself. 



*' I knew it ! The barrels are empty 1 I cannot 

 tolerate this stupid charge ; it is malicious and shameful I 

 Please compromise matters. I presume, Mr. S., you are 

 willing to admit that there is no proof that this gentleman 

 stole your cotton ? and you, sir," addressing the Russian, 

 " must admit that there is no proof that Mr. S. intended 

 to do anything else but to give you a fright." 



And so a compromise in these terms was agreed upon. 

 But the policeman whispered to Mr. S. 



" Would you like to thrash the rascal ? for, if so, I can 

 easily give you an opportunity of doing so, eh ? ' 



But Mr. S. declined the honour. " For," said he, as he 

 told the story, " I knew that the policeman was another 

 rascal, and that, if I had accepted the privilege offered to 

 me, he would have kept it over my head for years, and 

 threatened me with a trial ; and every time I attempted 

 to leave the country the trial would be reopened anew, 

 until they were heavily bribed to let me off without 

 it I" 



So both parties left the office. But, as the door was 

 closed behind them, the young Russian merchant, finding 

 himself alone with Mr. S., put his finger to his nose and 

 said 



" When you wish to catch a thief again, pray let me 

 advise you to take a little more time, to restrain your 

 passion, to be more careful of evidence, and you may 

 probably succeed ; in the meantime, I rattier think J hav* 



