I trust you do not intend to make your visit the pretext of disquieting me about other matters?
All the world knows that I have been living at large, in these northern counties, for some months, not to say years, and might have been apprehended at any time, had the necessities of the state required, or my own behaviour deserved it.

But no English magistrate has been ungenerous enough to trouble a gentleman under misfortune, on account of political opinions and disputes which have been long ended by the success of the reigning powers.

I trust, my good friend, you will not endanger yourself by taking any other view of the subject than you have done ever since we were acquainted ?' The Justice answered with more readiness, as well as more spirit than usual, 'Neighbour Ingoldsby--what you say--is--eh--in some sort true; and when you were coming and going at markets, horse-races, and cock-fights, fairs, hunts, and such-like--it was--eh--neither my business nor my wish to dispel--I say--to inquire into and dispel the mysteries which hung about you; for while you were a good companion in the field, and over a bottle now and then--I did not--eh--think it necessary to ask--into your private affairs.

And if I thought you were--ahem--somewhat unfortunate in former undertakings, and enterprises, and connexions, which might cause you to live unsettledly and more private, I could have--eh--very little pleasure--to aggravate your case by interfering, or requiring explanations, which are often more easily asked than given.

But when there are warrants and witnesses to names--and those names, christian and surname, belong to--eh--an attainted person--charged--I trust falsely--with--ahem-taking advantage of modern broils and heart-burnings to renew our civil disturbances, the case is altered; and I must--ahem--do my duty.' The Justice, got on his feet as he concluded this speech, and looked as bold as he could.