He could not well expect any of the persons concerned,
voluntarily to convict themselves; and his thoughts turned necessarily
upon Ralph as the only one on whom he could rest his desire in this
particular. We have seen with what indifferent success his own adventure
on the field of action, and when the danger was all well over, was
attended; but he had heard and seen enough to persuade himself that but
little was wanting, without appearing in the matter himself, to induce
Ralph to prosecute Rivers for the attempt upon his life, a charge which,
in his presence, he had heard him make. He calculated in this way to
secure himself in two jobs--as magistrate, to institute the initial
proceedings by which Rivers was to be brought to trial, and the expense
of which Ralph was required to pay--and, as an attorney-at-law, and the
only one of which the village might boast, to have the satisfaction of
defending and clearing the criminal.
Such being the result of his deliberations, he despatched Hob with a
note to Ralph, requesting to see him at the earliest possible moment,
upon business of the last importance.
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