JOHN MARVEL, AkSSISTANT
  'I adnm.it, gentlemen," he said, "that these
facts rest largely on my personal assurances; and,
unfortunately, I am not known personally to
most of you, though 1. trust that my professional
standing where I am known may be accepted as
a guaranty of my statements; but happily,
there is one of you to whom I can refer with con-
fidence, my old college mate and valued friend,
Henrv Glave. I might almost termn him my
former partner, so closely wele we associated in
the days when we weere both struggling young
attorneys, living in adjoining offices-I might,
indeed, almost say the same office. He, I feel
quite sure, will corroborate every statemnent I
have made, at least so far as he knows the facts,
and even where they rest wholly on my declara-
tion, I feel sure of his indorsemeift, for he knows
that I would cut off my right hand and have my
tongue torn from its roots, before I would utter
an untruth in any matter whatsoever; and least
of all, where so paltry a thing as money is con-
cerned. I appeal to Henry Glave."
  He sat down with his eyes fixed blandly on me.
I was so taken aback that I scarcely knew what
to say. The smoothness of his words and the
confidence of his mainer had evidently made an
impression on the others. They had, indeed,
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