The events of the last few weeks had rendered poor Sighmon Dumps more
sensitively nervous than ever. His seclusion became perpetual, his blind
always down, and he took his solitary walks in the dusk of the evening.
He had been told that sea sickness was sometimes beneficial in cases
resembling his own; he, therefore, bargained with some boatmen, who
engaged to take him out into the channel, on a little experimental
medicinal trip. At a very early hour in the morning he went down to the
beach, and prepared to embark. He had observed two persons who appeared
to be watching him, he felt certain they were dogging him, and just as
he was stepping into the boat they seized him, saying, "Sir, we know you
to be the great defaulter who has been so long concealed on this coast;
we know you are trying to escape to America, but you must come with us."
Sighmon's heart was broken. He felt it would be useless to endeavour to
explain or to expostulate; he spoke not, but was passively hurried to a
carriage in which he was borne to the metropolis as fast as four horses
could carry him, without rest or refreshment. Of course, after a minute
examination, he was declared innocent, and was released; but justice
smiled too late, the bloom of Sighmon's happiness had been prematurely
nipped.
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