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58 could assure him, as far as himself was concerned, he could not indulge without injustice.

He further stated that he had no personal ill-will towards him whatever; that though the object of so many harsh upbraidings just poured forth against him, they had not excited in him the least feeling of wrath; that he felt for him as much as one friend could feel for another, and most sincerely lamented that the unpleasant task had fallen upon himself of making inspection into the abuses which were said to exist at the depot; but this being the case, as nominated chief agent in the investigation, a responsibility was attached to the task.

"That abuses and frauds have taken place, General," added he, "you must doubtless be aware; but that you have no share in them will be also seen, as urged by yourself in your own defence, and which cannot fail as soon as the examination takes place to acquit you." Completely disarmed by this plausible language, or rather hypocritical effusion of words, General De Brooke had nothing further to advance than to make some slight apology for the warmth into which his injured and greatly excited feelings had betrayed him, little suspecting how much he had been made the dupe of perfidious artifice and intrigue.

Nothing then remained but to occupy himself