'I am sorry to have disturbed you, my good fellow, but as somebody must be notified before we proceed, I will just read the warrant, as I suppose you will hardly be able to make it out yourself;' and Mr. Richard pulled out a bit of paper and began to read rapidly—'Know all men by these presents,' etc. Cæsar, in the mean time, was getting his wrath up. He never liked the Irishman, and had often cautioned his master against him; and Mr. Richard's countenance not being, as my readers will remember, very pre-possessing, together with the fawning manner in which he attempted to get round him, woke up Cæsar's sensibilities:
'Mister, go to grass wid your paper, and tell a me what you want 'sturbing people dis time a de night.'
Mr. Richard being thus interrupted in his proceedings, stopped reading, and looking full in Cæsar's face—
'You know, I suppose, my good man, that Mr. Rutherford has failed?'
'Hab what?'
'Has failed; that is, can't pay his debts.'
'You a big liar.'
Mr. Richard didn't blush; he never had in his life; but he began to pick up a little courage.
'You must take care, old fellow, how you speak; I am an officer of the law, take care, sir. Here Malony, lead out one of these horses, and I will take the other.'
'What dat you say?'