Audrey

"What is your name?" demanded Haward, leaning back in his chair.

"Bartholomew Paris, sir. I keep the school down by the swamp, where I

impart to fifteen or twenty of the youth of these parts the rudiments of

the ancient and modern tongues, mathematics, geography, fortifications,

navigation, philosophy"-Haward yawned, and the schoolmaster broke the thread of his discourse. "I

weary you, sir," he said. "I will, with your permission, take my

departure. May I make so bold as to beg your Honor that you will not

mention to the gentlemen hereabouts the small matter of this bottle of

wine? I would wish not to be prejudiced in the eyes of my patrons and

scholars."

"I will think of it," Haward replied. "Come and take your snuffbox--if it

be yours--from the book where you have left it."

"It is mine," said the man. "A present from the godly minister of this

parish."

As he spoke he put out his hand to take the snuffbox. Haward leaned

forward, seized the hand, and, bending back the fingers, exposed the palm

to the light of the candles upon the table.

"The other, if you please," he commanded.

For a second--no longer--a wicked soul looked blackly out of the face to

which he had raised his eyes. Then the window shut, and the wall was blank

again. Without any change in his listless demeanor, the schoolmaster laid

his left hand, palm out, beside his right.

"Humph!" exclaimed Haward. "So you have stolen before to-night? The marks

are old. When were you branded, and where?"

"In Bristol, fifteen years ago," answered the man unblushingly. "It was

all a mistake. I was as innocent as a newborn babe"-"But unfortunately could not prove it," interrupted Haward. "That is of

course. Go on."

"I was transported to South Carolina, and there served out my term. The

climate did not suit me, and I liked not the society, nor--being of a

peaceful disposition--the constant alarms of pirates and buccaneers. So

when I was once more my own man I traveled north to Virginia with a party

of traders. In my youth I had been an Oxford servitor, and schoolmasters

are in demand in Virginia. Weighed in the scales with a knowledge of the

humanities and some skill in imparting them, what matters a little mishap

with hot irons? My patrons are willing to let bygones be bygones. My

school flourishes like a green bay-tree, and the minister of this parish

will speak for the probity and sobriety of my conduct. Now I will go,

sir."

He made an awkward but deep and obsequious reverence, turned and went out

of the door, passing Juba, who was entering with a salver laden with bread

and meat and a couple of bottles. "Put down the food, Juba," said Haward,

"and see this gentleman out of the house."