indeed my poor friend Mrs Niven, who was
my son's landlady when he was at college. I'll go and inquire about
her."

Mr Jack thrust the fat pocket-book into a breast pocket, and buttoned
up his coat with the determined air of a man who means to keep hold of
what he has got.

Bidding Mr Wilkins good-bye, he walked rapidly to Mrs Niven's house
and pulled the bell rather violently. The summons was promptly answered
by Peggy, who ushered him into a little parlour, where he was quickly
joined by Mrs Niven.

"I'm very sorry to hear the bad news," said Mr Jack, pressing the good
woman's hand in sympathy.

"What bad news?" asked Mrs Niven, in alarm.

"The bank, you know," said Mr Jack. "It's very hard, and to think that
you're in the same boat with my dear boy, whose fortune is wrecked--"

A little scream stopped him, for the word "wrecked" struck a chill to
the poor woman's heart.

"What! wrecked again?" she cried, "on a bank, in a boat? Oh! don't tell
me, don't tell me that he's drownded."

"No, no," cried Mr Jack, hastening to relieve her mind, while he
supported her to a chair; "no, no; my dear boy's all right. It's the
Blankow Bank I mean that's gone to wreck, you know, and all his money
with it, and yours too, I suppose, for you told me you had shares in
that bank."

"Oh! as to that," said Mrs Niven, greatly relieved, "you may mak' yer
mind easy. I've got nae shares intilt noo. I selt them through Mr
Black lang syne. He's a douce, clever, honest felly--a relation o'
mine, and a first-rate business man; but for him I'd hae lost my siller,
nae doot. He warned me that the bank was nae a right ane, and advised
me to sell."

Mr Jack thought that such a clever, disinterested man-of-business, and
a relation of Mrs Niven, might be just the person to give him sound
advice at this crisis; he therefore obtained his address, and, after a
long chat with the good woman, who would have listened for hours to the
adventures of her "bonny lodger," took his departure, and in due time
stood at the door of the dirty little office.

The dirty clerk ushered the visitor into the presence of Mr Black,
whose presence was more repulsive than it used to be. He received Mr
Jack rather gruffly, and asked his business.

"Oho! an eccentric character, gruff but honest," thought Mr Jack, who
began by saying that he had just come from visiting his friend Mrs
Niven.

Mr Black's face grew almost green at the name, and his brows sc