The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-09
have OUTLAWS to make, and my agents to pay

handsomely, too. There is Martin -
Aveling interrupted him by sarcastic laugh,
presently observing that he supposed he paid
HIM wages. and could command his time and
services. He was only making excuses 1t was
no use his trying to catch old birds with chat.
Martins anxiety grew more intense as the
conversation proceeded. He saw Gaetano eve
Aveling with an air of ill-conceaed contempt,
as though, having summed him up in his own
mind, ne had set him down as mere novice in
the Shiny ways of legal trickery.
You smile incredulously," he remarked.
now distorting his face with smile. "You
know nothing, my friend. Under ordinary cir
cumstanees, yes, | get my work done for the
wages | pay but there are some transactions,
you know, which involve the galleys; and it is
best in such cases, to make subordinates prin-
cipals. BY duplicating them in the risks. it
binds them more efectually to silence. Do you
understand"
Mark did not clearly comprehend, though he
admitted there might be reason in what the at
torney said
Now, tomorrow" resumed the latter, "when
Martin hands me those deeds and the fair copy
of them, will make him read them over to me.
This is mere business form. | shall then
take hiia into my confidence He must know
everything; and then / shall pay him hand
some sum to bind him over to secresy. In case
of accidents, he must be dumb for his own sake
Is it clear to you now, and does it seem reason
able to you that should exact cash, under such
circumstances?
Martin, hearing every word that passed, tried
to hold up his head. Those thoughts reverted
to him with redoubled force, and he saw himself
plunging headlong into that abyss of wickedness
prepared so cunningly for him by his patron.
No t.1ar ra1 he h,,r, C. -,
to believe he had awakened from dream. The
voice of Aveling aroused him. He lost part
of what he said, but heard enough to satisfy
him that the willy attorney had carried his point,
fed
"You see, my friend" pursued Gaetano in
his mildest tones, 81 have to maneuvre for
the safety of my clients as well as my own.
But now this little affair of the money is ar
ranged, you may leave the rest to me-"
Martin watched the long fingers, extended
till they clutched the roll of notes, and marked
the tenacity with which they held them till
their number and amount had been carefully
told off twice. They were then put up again,
tied carefully and tightly round with piece OF
dirty red tape, that was conveniently lying on the
table, and the precious packet was thrust into
the breast-pocket of the attorneys coat, which
ne DuttOnei closely up.
" But am | to receive no acknowledgment Oh
the payment of this large sum, Mr.. Attorney y
asked AveEng
Ny honor, my honor! . responded Gaeta
no, laying his hand over the place where the notes
were secreted. ~ am a man of honor, Mon
sieur Avelihg. You may trust me. Your af
fair is done, | never give receipts in such eases
1t is not my habit. Ny receipt is the work.
tell you it is done. You may regard it as
such"
Avehng'S countenance changed, Martin
| thought, and betrayed considerable uneasness
whilst the attorneys frightened in a correspond
ing degree. The two eyed each other few
moments in silence, and then Mark abruptly
| rose.
"Honor is all very fine he growled, gleam
ing hercely at Gaetano, but you wouldn't trust
mine; and I'm not so sure that in placing
confidence in yours, I've not made a fools bar
| gain. But | warn You betmes. Mister. Mark
| Aveling is not man to be trHed with, especial
! ly Ehea serious business is afoot. So, don
you attempt to play double with me for, as sure
as you do, by G., I'll show you what Southern
| blood will do when it is once up. Take my
word for it, you'd better make your will, an(
say good bye to your clients. l am in earnest
so take warning.
Martin saw that the attorney qualled before
his clients fierce gaze and menacing gestures
but felt that the latter was doing Gaetano al
| injustice. He recovered himself, presently
however, and quietly replied
| Monsieur Aveling, | repeat that L am ;
man of honor, and your interests are perfectly
safe in my hands. Your menaces, then, arc a
misplaced as they are needless
| owe won't stand nice about that" muttereC
AvelHg. Give only told you my mind and m!
meaning. / shall be with you tomorrow. Goot
evening"
| With bow, and promise to meet him OF
the morrow, at some place evidently agreed up
on before they came in, Gaetano lighted hi
irritatcd client down the stairs, nor returned
until be heard the outer door of the house Sian
to, denoting that he was gone. He then quiet
" resumed his seat in the armchair, under thu
old, obese spider, and covering his face will
those long bony fingers Of his, remained thu
some ten minutes. buried in thought. Martil
once suspected he had fallen asleep, but, warn
ed by the nervous working of the attorney
hands, had the selfpossession to remain wher
he was, and watch to the end. At length Gae
tano got up, and put on his hat. He then ex
| tinguished one Of the candles, and taking thu
| other, once more visited the inner den. MARTYR
knew that the lawyer was looking ct him, ant
was narrowly inspecting as much as he coul'
see Of the copy of the documents. But he dc
not attempt to disturb him. He only muttsreC
the words, "poor, unhappy wretch! and thel
went away.
Yes! poor, unhappy wretch, indeed; who lis
tened till he was gone who got up and openet
the window gently, to watch him well out OF tn.
street. who then cautiously waited III the dari
for some minutes longer, lest he should return
who next procured a light, and after reading
over those documents, tied them carefully up
and thrust them into his coat-pocket, and delil!
erately set fire to the copies he had commenced
For the picture was still there, rising up be
fore his heated imagination; with Lisette a
Mildred, and the plantations, and the negroes
and the hot sum- and Aveling, and the room il
the Rue Blanche, and the startling calling out
Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow !" all thi
confused and jumbled together, but still there.
Quite a rivalry exists in London at the pres
emf time among the undertakers, and the Eco
nomic Cemetery Funeral Establishment" II
Hyde Park has cut little under the regular
rates, and advertises that first class tunera
will be attended for Sl35, and a tradesman'
funeral will be got up for $50. The former
rates were Sl45 and S2l.50. The difference III
these occasions, as inferred from the advertise
ment, would seem to be- that at first class fu
neral the hearse has four horses, and two coach
es are provided; the coffin is of lead and all the
horses are decorated with plumes. AT trades
| mans funeral, the hearse has two unpumed
horses, and only one coach is furnished. There
is less fuss, and no feathers.
Religion is a costly luxury, in some certain
worldly respects. 1t is estimated that the cur
rent expenses of the churches in Boston will
amount to S240, 900, this year. The value of the
several church estates in the city of Boston is
estimated at about four millions of dollars. The
expenses of the different societies vary from
$500 to $500 year The cost of public