unnatural disease from that time till the present.  My brother carried on his treacherous part, and it required no little effort to convince the community that Taylor was really guilty of what was charged upon himself.  Although he was known to be a desperate man, yet the charges were of such a nature, it was most difficult to sustain them.  My brother’s main dependence was in the fraternity.  He founded his hope of success upon a concert of action among so many, apparently reputable witnesses.  Some of them would be used in behalf of the state, and consequently receive regular pay for time and services, and at the same time could employ a false testimony against Taylor.  Two objects could be thus secured; first, they would be detained as witnesses and used as necessity required; and, secondly, be ready to make up my bail.  My brother further gave community to understand, that he would be able, by the production of certain papers, to convince them of all that had been rumored against Taylor.  For this end, a quantity of papers were forwarded to this city, among which were some bearing my name, that were mere business letters.  The ordering these letters was not approved by me.  It was a plan of my brother.  When it was discovered by several of my most intimate friends, they became alarmed, thinking I was concerned in the affair.  As the fraternity required, by their constitution, that all letters should be returned at the request of the author, permitting the holder to take a copy, it became my duty to comply with this requisition whenever made.  There was a great alarm.  Many visited the city with whom I had held correspondence, whose letters had never been returned.  They learned as to the disposition that was to be made of the papers, and report said we were about to give each individual’s name concerned, as we were intending to turn state’s evidence.  This accounts for the many different visiters you have seen.  You also saw several from Lawrenceburgh, and the very man you said spoke so disrespectfully of me, and gave you the long moral lecture, is here on the same purpose—­the same individual you met two days since, whom you designated as having light hair.”

I here found his strength would not permit him to pursue the narrative further, and upon his promising to resume and finish the subject the next day, I left the hospital.

[1] When he spoke of this fraternity, I then supposed he referred to some of the benevolent societies of the day.

CHAPTER VII.

In returning to my boarding-house I was met by the blackleg pettifogger, who treated me with great coldness.  I met him again the next morning at the prison, and he treated me in like manner.  But I was especially anxious to hear what more the colonel had to say, and hastened to his room.  He began his account where he had left off.

“This man, who was dressed in disguise, was greatly alarmed, lest certain of his letters in the package should come to light, which had not been retained.  He started for home, as stated by his son, but returned to secure his letters.  You have witnessed the tremendous excitement which exists, the running to and fro, and the many strange visitors that frequent my room.  There is a cause for all this which I will now relate.