We knew that he had been a partner in a great London banking-house; that he had not led a very virtuous life; that he had possessed himself, by forgery, of trust-moneys which he was doubly bound to respect; and that he had been hanged for his offense, in the year eighteen hundred and twenty-four, when the gallows was still set up for other crimes than murder, and when Jack Ketch was in fashion as one of the hard-working reformers of the age.
"Very good," said Mr.Trowbridge.

"You both of you know quite enough of Fauntleroy to be interested in what I am going to tell you.

When the bottles have been round the table, I will start with my story." The bottles went round--claret for the degenerate youngsters; port for the sterling, steady-headed, middle-aged gentlemen.

Mr.Trowbridge sipped his wine--meditated a little--sipped again--and started with the promised anecdote in these terms:.