The novels of Charles Brockden Brown, consisting of Wieland;or, The transformation. Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the year 1793. Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a sleep-walker. Jane Talbot. Ormond; or, The secret witness. Clara Howard; or, The enthusiasm of love. With a memoir of the author.

THE SECRET WITNESS.

95

"Received my dues, indeed! High enough, too! I
have received none of my dues! I have been imposed upon.
I have been put to very great trouble, and expect some
compensation. There is no knowing the character of
one's tenants. There is nothing but knavery in the
world, one would think. I'm sure no man has suffered
more by bad tenants than I have. But this is the
strangest treatment I ever met with. Very strange,
indeed; and, Dudley, I must be paid without delay. To
lose my rent and twenty-five dollars into the bargain is
too hard. I never met with the equal of it,-not I. Besides, I wouldn't be put to all this trouble for twice the
sum."
"What does all this mean, Mr. M'Crea? You seem
inclined to scold; but I cannot conceive why you. came
here for that purpose. This behaviour is improper."
" No, it's very proper, and I want payment of my money.
Fifty dollars you owe me. Miss comes to me, to pay
me my rent, as I thought. She brings me a fifty-dollar
note; I changes it for her, for I thought to-be-sure I was
quite safe; but, behold, when I sends it to the bank to
get the money, they sends me back word that it's forged,
and calls on me, before a magistrate, to tell them where I
got it from. I'm sure I never was so flustered in my life.
I would not have such a thing for ten times the sum."
He proceeded to descant on his loss without any in'terruption from his auditors, whom this intelligence had
struck dumb. Mr. Dudley instantly saw the origin and
full extent of this misfortune. He was, nevertheless,.
calm, and indulged in no invectives against Craig. "It
is all of a piece," said he: "our ruin is inevitable. Well,
then, let it come."
After M'Crea had railed himself weary, he flung out
of the house, warning them that next morning he should
distrain for his rent, and, at the same time, sue them for
the money that Constantia had received in exchange for
her note. Miss Dudley was unable to pursue her task.
She laid down her needle, and fixed her eyes upon her
father. They had been engaged in earnest discourse
when their landlord entered. Now there was a pause of
profound silence, till the affectionate Lucy, who sufficiently