382 " SAFE BIND SAFE FIND. " 



course under the control of Nick, who would not 

 commit himself by the chance of a letter of his own 

 writing being brought against him. The clerk values 

 his berth too much to talk, though perhaps an honest 

 man himself, whose conscience often rebels against 

 what he is made to do. Besides, though it might be 

 proved he wrote a note, it might not be easy to 

 prove he was directed to do so : and as the weakest 

 generally go to the wall, Nick would be too strong 

 for him ; so the result of any babbling on his part 

 would only end in his being at once turned out, and 

 stigmatised (from want of proof of the reverse) as 

 an ungrateful scoundrel : so he is, in racing phrase, 

 " made safe. " 



As for Meddler, Nick's first object in patronising 

 him is to get him in his debt : he therefore is a tool, 

 a mere slave in Nick's hands : if he dared speak, he 

 would be laid by the heels, as Pat says, " in less than 

 no time ; " and probably he would be subject to an 

 action for defamation ; in which case his general cha- 

 racter not being likely to be any strong advocate in 

 his favour, he is quite aware he could have no chance : 

 so he is " made safe " also. 



Never therefore let a seller or buyer be misled by 

 letters shown him : they are as much to be depended 

 upon as are the same things sometimes manufactured 

 by some dealers. If we have to do with a respectable 

 man, we want no such attempted corroboratory evi- 

 dence : if we meet a rogue, a letter shown by him is 

 just as much proof of truth as his word or his oath, 

 and these would be no proof at all. In speaking 

 thus plainly, I do not feel any qualification necessary, 

 as I only allude to some dealers and some repository- 

 keepers, and quite as much to some tradesmen of any 



