“This is my pocket-book, madame,” said he as he rose from the table, “and I find all my money in it, just as it was when it was stolen.” Then, handing Captain Quitman a little paper box, she said:
“In this box, sir, you will find all the other stolen articles, which you will oblige me by returning to the owners.”
The captain received the articles and instantly delivered them to the parties from whom they had been filched; then, addressing the mysterious woman, he said:
“Madame, the circumstances just developed force me to the performance of a very painful duty which I would gladly shun, but I must place you under arrest.”
“Captain Quitman,” said Demar, as he advanced to the spot where he stood, “I am requested by a large number of your passengers to inform you that it is their wish that this unfortunate woman should be forgiven and dismissed without exposure. We must remember that the most prominent trait in our great Saviour’s character was His boundless mercy toward malefactors. When He was bleeding on the cross, suffering the agonies of death for the sins of fallen man, He spoke the words of pardon to the poor thief who was dying by His side. Now, in humble imitation of the merciful example set us by our great Redeemer, let us pardon this poor unfortunate woman, and bid her go and sin no more.”
“Doctor Demar,” said Captain Quitman, “nothing would gratify me more than to comply with the wishes of you and your friends; but the duty which I was performing is one not to be avoided by me unless the request shall be endorsed by the parties whose property was stolen.”
“We indorse the request most willingly,” said Navarre.
“I most heartily join in that request,” said George Woodburry.
“Madame,” said the captain, “you have heard the noble expressions of compassion which have just been made in your behalf, and I am happy to be permitted to speak the words of pardon to you. You will be permitted to remain in mask, and no further effort will be made to expose you, but you must leave this boat when we arrive at Vicksburg.”
“Captain Quitman,” began the strange woman, “for the manifestations of mercy and forgiveness so generously expressed by these kind ladies and gentlemen, I am profoundly grateful; but I must be pardoned for saying that while I appreciate the generosity that prompts the offer, I do not ask or wish any mercy from these good ladies and noble men. When I want mercy, I will dispatch my supplication to a higher tribunal, where the secrets of all hearts are known, and where good and bad deeds are correctly recorded. I am by no means ignorant of the old legal maxim that holds the possessor of stolen goods responsible for the theft, until such possession is explained by competent evidence. I do not deny the fact that a prima facie case has been made out in this instance against me; nevertheless, I am not the thief. You were correct, indeed, when you concluded that you had a shrewd thief aboard of this boat. I can assert of my own knowledge, that a demon is among you, whose black soul is steeped in crime, an inhuman monster, who neither fears God, man nor Satan.