there he is, a tenant at will. Now, for the purposes you have in view
towards me, that pledge goes for nothing. I cannot renew these bills
upon such frail security. If the old man cannot find means to meet them,
Leicester must, that's all."

"Leicester is a villain!" cried another and a deeper voice, whose tones
seemed not quite strange to Roland's ears. "He has ruined my poor old
friend; he will soon leave him houseless, and he threatens to leave him
almost friendless too."

"He told me," said the other, "he should certainly claim his daughter,
and means to return next summer for that purpose."

"I almost hope poor Con will never live to see that day," said the
former, with a heavy sigh.

"Well, to return to our own affair, sir, I tell you frankly, I don't
consider Cashel's promise deserving of any consideration. He doubtless
means to keep it; that's the very most anybody can say about it. But
remember what a life he is leading: he has drawn about thirty thousand
out of Latrobe's hands in three months,--no one knows for what. He has
got among a set of men who play high, and cannot pay if they lose. Now,
his estate is a good one; but it can't last forever. My notion is that
the young fellow will end as he began, and become a buccaneer once
more."

"He has a long course to run ere that comes," said the other.

"Not so long as you fancy. There are demands upon him from quarters you
little suspect, or that, for the moment, he little suspects himself. It
would surprise you to hear that he is in Leicester's hands too."

"Roland Cashel--Mr. Cashel--in Leicester's hands! How do you mean?"

Just at this instant Linton's foot was heard ascending the stairs, and
Cashel, whose eagerness to hear the remainder became a perfect torture
of anxiety, was forced to lose the opportunity.

"What a hunt I have had!" said Linton, as he entered, flushed and
weary-looking. "Our amount is rather above the ordinary mark, and
I found it almost impossible to procure the stamps. Are you tired
waiting?"

"No,--nothing to speak of," said Cashel, confusedly.

"Well, I fancy our friend here has had much more than his share of an
audience. I'll see, and unearth him."

And so saying, Linton knocked with his cane at the door. A low murmuring
of voices succeeded, the sound of feet followed, and soon after the door
was opened, and a small, thin, pale-faced man in black appeared.

"Good morning, Mr. Hoare. Here have we been playing antechamb