"Certainly it is," he replied. "But to none who have not its success as much at heart as I have."

"But if I do what you want, I'll be certain to be exposed in my own town, perhaps to some of my friends or acquaintances." "Exposed' is not the word," said he. "There's not one who will know who won't think more of you for doing it."

This new feature of the matter did not please me. Since I had come to the town a few years before I had stood well with all classes. Was I now to forfeit the good opinion I had gained? I spoke of this, also of the certainty of the suspicion with which I would be regarded by the post-office authorities being confirmed by my leaving so soon after the occurrence.

"You need not leave just immediately," said he; "the thing will soon blow over. At least, any suspicion there may be of you will soon cease, as so many others will be concerned. You see," he added, after a pause, "I can meet every objection you raise. I hope I may understand you'll do what I want?"

"I really don't know-I'll think of it," said I.

"But I would much rather you would decide at once; sure you can easily do so?"

"No I cannot; I'll have to think over it till to-morrow. You must admit that the consequences would probably be very important to me."

"Well, if you must, do so. But when am I to see you again? Will you say to-morrow evening?”

"I am afraid I cannot," said I; "as I was thinking of spending to-morrow evening with a friend."

"But what time would you return? You could be back by eleven, could you not?"

"Yes, I suppose I could. But is there any necessity for my deciding so soon?""

"There is. I expect the letter will be sent the evening after to-morrow."

"Well, then, you can come soon after eleven to-morrow night, and I'll be here to admit you."

"I'll not fail to come," said he, rising as he spoke; "and now," he added, looking at me determinedly, "I have confidence in you, or would not have told you unreservedly what I have; but remember, don't provoke my vengeance by revealing a word of what you have heard. You little know what power I have, or how many there are who would be ready to exercise it. But stay," he continued, as he saw by my countenance that I was not to be threatened with impunity, "I have no desire to offend you, you cannot think I have; I will tell you at once that although what I have just stated is no idle threat, I have less confidence

in threats than in the hatred I know you would have to be a 'stag.'"*

I did not reply to this, but followed him to the door, which I closed when he had gone.

It was now late. I went to my bed-room, struck a light, and kept it burning for about ten minutes, when I put it out. I then came down-stairs, opened the door cautiously, and looked out. The streets were almost deserted, and I was certain I could leave the house without being observed. After a little time I passed out, closed the door quietly with my key, and went away.

When I returned, which I did in about an hour, it was long past twelve o'clock. I came in cautiously, crept up-stairs, and went to bed without a light. I found next morning that my old landlady knew nothing of my having had a visitor, or of my late hours. I had taken the latch-key at her request when I came to lodge in her house, as it was her habit to retire soon after ten o'clock.

I went to the office, and attended as usual during the day. My mind was so much occupied with the occurrences of the previous night, that I did not feel inclined to go to my friend's house as I had intended, and therefore when the office was closed I went straight to my lodgings, and awaited the coming of my strange visitor.

He was punctual. Very soon after eleven o'clock I answered a low knock at the door and admitted him. Before doing so, however, I took the precaution of putting my revolver, which I had carefully loaded, into my pocket. We had a long conversation similar to that of the previous night. He congratulated me on my appearing more inclined to "study my own interest," as he expressed it, and we finally arranged that I should give the letter for a consideration of fifty pounds, to be paid at the time. He opened a pocket-book, and showed me five ten-pound notes. I saw they were genuine, and he placed them in an envelope bearing my address, which I sealed with my seal, adding also my initials on the back. The understanding was that when I gave him the letter he was to hand this envelope in its present state to me. He gave me the address and a description of the letter, and soon after left. I did not go out again that night.

He had told me he was now almost certain the letter would be sent on the following evening, and that I must look carefully for it.

On the next day, my mind dwelt so intently on the occurrences I have described and their possible result, that I found it impossible to get through my work or do anything correctly. I felt I

* Informer.

had undertaken to do what was to affect in no small degree my future career, and I confess I had many misgivings. I wished more than once I had never seen my strange friend, or that the letter could be posted at another office. I determined, however, to keep as cool and self-possessed as possible, and now that I had put my hand to the plough not to turn back."

The evening came, and as the hour for the CS's letters to be posted drew near, my excitement increased. I waited anxiously for the messenger, yet dreaded his appearance. At last I saw him approach the window, and in a moment after heard the large letters dropping into the letter-box one by one. I went immediately and took them out, and surely enough the letter that was so much wanted was amongst them!

It was now nearly seven o'clock. Instead of keeping the letter with those that were to be despatched, I brought it to the "strangers' alphabet," and put it amongst those that were to be called for. I looked at every figure that entered, expecting every moment to see my friend, but it was nearly half-past seven when he appeared. I fancy he must have been watching for a favourable opportunity, as he came in just as two persons went out, and only one-a young lad-remained. He came forward to the place where letters were delivered, and asked if there were any for his name, which he stated. I saw he had my envelope in his hand, also a penny, and before I had time to answer his question, he put the envelope with the penny on the counter, placing my initials and seal so that I could observe them, and pushed it and the money towards me, saying, "I'll want you to put a stamp on that." Of course, I fully understood him; yet it would have been impossible for any one to suspect either from his manner or tone of voice that we had seen each other before. I took the letter from the "alphabet," and looked at it for a moment. My fingers tingled and my heart throbbed, but I could not change my determination now. I held it towards him, and he took it from me. The moment he did so he glanced towards the other which he had left on the counter-I am not certain, however, with the object of recovering it but, whether or not, I had got it; my right hand lifted it as the left was extended to him.

He looked at me—a curious look!-and as I stepped back and tore open the cover to examine the contents, he smiled curiously; but I could not discover the slightest expression of reproach for my apparent want of faith.

He folded the letter into half its size, and it was still in his hand when he left the office. I went for a moment to a bell to ring for the assistant, and had scarcely returned when I saw a party of police pass the office with a prisoner. My friend had been arrested!

The assistant came down to the office now instead of waiting till the usual time, and, in accordance with an arrangement I had made with her in the morning, she took my place to attend to the public. I passed at once into an inner apartment or division of the office, and remained there until I had the night mail ready for despatch. When the bags were strapped, the junior letter-carrier, who also brought the mails to and from the trains, lifted them, and was about to leave, when the postmaster said he wanted to see him, and that he must come up-stairs. The carrier looked at the bags, wondering no doubt how they were to be got to the station; but the postmaster merely said that another person would bring them, and he and the carrier went away. I may say that this also had been arranged during the day.

The moment they were gone I put on a portion of the carrier's spare uniform, pulled his cap down over my face as much as possible, and threw the strap of bags over my left shoulder, allowing some to hang behind and some before: they were usually carried in this way. I was of the same size and age as the carrier, whom, indeed, I somewhat resembled, and, as I now appeared, I was quite certain I could safely pass for him. I therefore carefully examined my revolver, placed it in a safe and convenient pocket, and at once passed out on my way to the railway station.

I confess I was not sorry to observe when I got to the door that there did not appear to be any persons about the office of whom I need be afraid, and I felt much relieved when I reached the station without having been addressed by any one. I was not too soon; the bags were given to the guard, I was "chaffed" a little about my dress, the whistle sounded, the train started, and I started with it, There was then no telegraph. I felt quite safe; and on arriving in Dublin went to a friend's house, where I stayed during the night.

The next morning I did not go out before breakfast; but soon after ten o'clock I got a cab and drove direct to the CS's office. On reaching it I gave my name, and was at once admitted to a kind of study where I was told to wait. In a few minutes the C-Shimself came in; he advanced smiling, bade me good morning, and said:

"You managed that very well indeed. I was rather anxious till I saw the particulars this morning."

"Your

"I'm very glad that all went right," said I; "but I think I have been very fortunate in getting safely out of the town." "Yes, perhaps you are better away," he observed. friend had not so great confidence in you after all; he must have had a confederate to take the letter from him at the door, as it was gone when he was arrested, although he had not walked one hundred yards from the office. But it was a dummy!"

I was astonished to hear this, and more thankful than before for my escape.

"What do you think you'll do?" continued he. "I suppose you had better go away for a year or so."

"I certainly will, and at once too. I'll not feel safe till I'm a good distance from here."

He went to a desk and took out some bank-notes, which he handed to me saying:

"This is for your travelling expenses. I'll send to-day a draft on, banker in Paris, and you'll find it there on your arrival. The amount will be your allowance for six months, at the end of that time I'll see that it is renewed. You had better leave your address with your banker, as I'll write you to return so soon as I find you can do so with safety, and when you come back I'll see if employment can be found for you."

I left at once. The next morning's papers contained acknowledgments from two of the Dublin Hospitals of the receipt of a donation of twenty-five pounds each from an anonymous contributor. I was then near London.

I did not stay long in Paris, but spent nearly two years very pleasantly in the principal cities of the Continent. At the end of my sojourn I returned to England, and soon after got a berth where neither my enemies nor former friends would have expected to find me.

S. S. R.

A WALK WITHIN THE WALLS OF CHESTER.

FROM London, across the bright Thames at Maidenhead, by meadowy Pangbourne, past Oxford, and so through the centre of England across the "black country," with but one tunnel in the mining district of Oakengates during our whole journey, we reached, in seven hours, our destination, and, crossing the muddy Dee, entered, on its eastern side, the old city of Chester-too late to see anything that night, and with but one day, and that Sunday, to become acquainted with it. Ten minutes will tell what I saw within and beyond the walls built round the city she loved by the Saxon Countess Ethelfleda in the early part of the tenth century. It is pleasant to read that, after all its sufferings, from the time it rose under the Roman sway, a maiden city, Deva, by siege and battle, fire and famine, through centuries of Danish and Saxon wars, Chester should have gained rest and security from a woman, and that the walls which now surround it were built by her to