'ante-chamber,' if little Hoare paid me a visit."

"Well, be it so; only let us despatch," said Cashel, "for I am anxious
to catch Kennyfeck before he goes down to court."

"I 'll not detain you many minutes, sir," said Hoare, drawing forth a
very capacious black leather pocket-book, and opening it on the
table. "There are the bills, drawn as agreed upon,--at three and six
months,--here is a statement of the charges for interest, commission,
and--"

"I am quite satisfied it is all right," said Cashel, pushing the paper
carelessly from him. "I have borrowed money once or twice in my life,
and always thought anything liberal which did not exceed cent per cent."

"We are content with much less, sir, as you will perceive," said Hoare,
smiling. "Six per cent interest, one-half commission--"

"Yes, yes; it is all perfectly correct," broke in Cashel. "I sign my
name here--and here?"

"And here, also, sir. There is also a policy of insurance on your life."

"What does that mean?"

"Oh, a usual kind of security in these cases," said Linton; "because if
you were to die before the bills came due--"

"I see it all; whatever you please," said Cashel, taking up his hat and
gloves. "Now, will you pardon me for taking a very abrupt leave?"

"You are forgetting a very material point, sir," said Hoare; "this is an
order on Frend and Beggan for the money."

"Very true. The fact is, gentlemen, my head is none of the clearest
to-day. Good-bye--good-bye."

"Ten to one all that haste is to keep some appointment with one of
Kennyfeck's daughters," said Hoare, as he shook the sand over the
freshly-signed bills, when the heavy bang of the hall-door announced
Cashel's departure.

"I fancy not," said Linton, musing; "I believe I can guess the secret."

"What am I to do with these, Mr. Linton?" said the other, not heeding
the last observation, as he took two pieces of paper from the pocket of
his book.

"What are they?" said Linton, stretching at full length on a sofa.

"Two bills, with the endorsement of Thomas Linton."

"Then are two ten-shilling stamps spoiled and good for nothing," replied
Linton, "which, without that respectable signature, might have helped to
ruin somebody worth ruining."

"'One will be due on Saturday, the twelfth. The other--"

"Don't trouble yourself about the dates, Hoare. I 'll renew as often as
you please--I 'll do anything but pay."

"Come, sir, I'll make a generous proposition: I have made a g