CHAPTER XXVIII.

What needs all that, and a pair of stocks in the to>vn ? Sergeant Jones was not alone ; there was a dapper little man w ltli him whom nobody Lnew, who slipped noiselesal / J into the room, and ranged himself against the wall in an unobtrusive manner. ' Sergeant,' cried John, still hoarse with passion, 'l require you lo.take this man into custody. I, as the agent of the Providential Fire Assurance Company, give into your charge, these incendiaries, Mr Rowlands and his daughter.' ' Dim possible,' murmured Sergeant Jones. 1 Oh, I've got evidence, plenty, when the time comes Didn't Sar.ih Roberts, the cook, see him wandering about the house after overjbody was in bod, with lighted candles in his hand ! Didn't he go into Miss Wmny's room, and then didn't they both go out on the lawn, and then the fire came' And here's the candlestick that set the fire ablazing ! Look what I found pn the lawn, writh a bit of the very curtain that the fire was put to 1 Bring 'em before a magistrate : that's all I ask ; bring 'em before Colonel Lloyd, and! let him say who speaks the truth.' ' You scoundrel 1' cried the banter. — ' Jones, you don't believe a word he says :■ he is a thief ; he has been robbing, me, I know ; I give him in charge to you, sergeant.' ' Well,' said Sergeant Jones prudently — lie had heard ugly rumours about the fire and the loss of the ship, and the banker's credit had sunk considerably ; but still he didn't 4 care to offend a man who might, after all, escape the consequences of his acts — 'Well, gentlemen, I think, as it seems a complicated case, you had better all come down with nje to the court-house, and have it settled there. Colonel Lloyd will bo there at elevon, and its now past nine. And as for the charge of stealing the notes and gold in the linen bag, why, it turns out that the young gentleman gave the baj to the- landlord of the Royal Goat, to take down to thepolice office if he wasn't back by nine ; and I've got it there safe ; so that matter can be gone into likewise by the same set of w orships.' Clearly, everybody was content with this arrangement ? except, perhaps, the banker, whose pride was touched that he should have to answer a charge brought by his own clerk. Bnt even he was satisfied on reflection. If he could only keep open the bank till eleven o'clock, he would have all the prestige of his position ; a charge such as that brought by John the clerk depended for its credibility so much upon the character and antecedents of the person charged, tltat he might safely laugh at it as he then stood. But if, from any mischance, the perilous condition in which he stood should be noised abroad ; if it became known that Rowlands was ruined — then any circumstantial evidence of his guilt would go against him with terrible force. Let him but keep open the bank for one- short hour, and he might yet get the better of his evil destinies. There were twochances against him : the Hen Doctor with his notes ; the young Englishman with his dishonoured draft. Gerard was also anxious. After all, perhaps, he had done a foolish thing, and might yet get into a mess about it. He was vexed, too, at the contretenvpt which had, for Ao long, prevented him from executing the trust that had Ceen conOded to him by the office — the bringing to book the defaulting stamp distributor. Really, it looked rery much as if he had mixed himself up with tho Rowlands, and purposelyevaded the carrying out of his instructions Well, anyhow,, he'd lose no more time ; he'd visit this Mr Rowlands' office ; and if he found there really was the deficiency represented by the dishonoured cheque, why, he would h»re no option a but to execute his instructions, and apply to the magistrates ™ for a warrant against the defaulter. And w that was Winny's brother, it would break his heart to do it.

A Presidential Bill of Fare —The grand " inauguration ball" in honor of President Grant, was given at Washington on the sth inst.,and if the assembled|guetts consumed all the supper provided for them they must hare got almost satisfied by the close of the entertainment, and let us bope comfortable on the morning of the 6th inst. The following is the list of things, which, according to the A>w York Herald, of the 2nd inst., had been forwarded from that city to Washington in preparation for what it terms " the grand blowout:" —10,000 fried oysters, 8,000 scalloped oysters, 8,000 pickled oysters, 65 boned turkeys of 12ft each, 15G roast capons, stuffed with truffles; 15 saddles of mutton, about 10ft eaeli; 40 pieces of spiced beef, 401b each ; 200 dozen quails, larded and roasted ; 100 game pates, 501l> each ; 300 tongues, ornamented with jelly; 30 salmon, baked ; Montpi'iier buttor, 100 chickens, 400 partridges, 25 bear*' heads, stulFed and ornamented ; 40 pfttes de foie gras, 101b each ; 2,000 head cheese sandwiches, 3,000 ham sandwiches, 3,000 beef tongue sandwiches. 1,500 bundles of celery, 30 barrels, salad, 2 barrels lettuce, 350 chickens boiled for salad, 1 barrel of beets, 2,500 loaves of bread, 8,000 rolls, 21 ca»e* Prinpe'"Albprt crackers, I,oooft butter, 300 Charlotte rushes, l}Jb eacli ; 200 mouldi white jelly, 200 moulds blancmange, 300 gallons ice cream, assorted ; 200 gallons ices, assorted ; 4001b mixed cakes, l.'Oft large cakes, ornamented ; 60 large pyramids, assorted ; 25 barrels Malaga grapes, 15 cases oranires, 5 barrels apples, 4001b mixed candies, 10 boxes mums, 2001b shelled almonds, 300 gallons claret punch, 300 gallons coffee, 200 gallons tea, )00 gallons chocolate, besides " oil, vinegar, lemons, and trimmings of all sorts." The cost of this feast had not vet been estimated, but for the baking and preparing alone $10,000, and for tho hire of the dishes $5,200 (with breakage and damage to be made good) had been paid. The supper would of course hßveh Bve been a little more bountiful, but that unfortunately the Americans are at present clothed in sackcloth, and engaged in rigidly observing thn Lenten fast —Pall Mall Gazette. The organ of chess and whist players lias some curious remarks on the p)ay of the First and the Third Napoleon*. Napoleon I. played che«s boldly, 'taking everything upon his ft'taek, and leaving himself without, supports in case of failure Xapolcon 111. played whist with boldness at first, but afterward* with vacillation, changing hi» mind when too late.