don't intend to be a scoundrel myself. I have
told you that long ago."

The usurer's brows darkened, but he dispelled the cloud with an easy
laugh.

"Well," said he, "you are neither wise nor complimentary, but you shall
have the money. But yet, would it not be better," added Levy, with
emphasis, "to borrow it without interest, of your friend L'Estrange?"

Egerton started as if stung.

"You mean to taunt me, sir!" he exclaimed passionately. "I accept
pecuniary favours from Lord L'Estrange!--I!"

"Tut, my dear Egerton, I dare say my Lord would not think so ill now of
that act in your life which--"

"Hold!" exclaimed Egerton, writhing. "Hold!"

He stopped, and paced the room, muttering, in broken sentences, "To
blush before this man! Chastisement, chastisement!"

Levy gazed on him with hard and sinister eyes. The minister turned
abruptly.

"Look you, Levy," said he, with forced composure, "you hate me--why, I
know not."

"Hate you! How have I shown hatred? Would you ever have lived in this
palace, and ruled this country as one of the most influential of its
ministers, but for my management, my whispers to the wealthy Miss
Leslie? Come, but for me what would you have been,--perhaps a beggar."

"What shall I be now, if I live? And this fortune which my marriage
brought to me--it has passed for the main part into your hands. Be
patient, you will have it all ere long. But there is one man in the
world who has loved me from a boy, and woe to you if ever he learn that
he has the right to despise me!"

"Egerton, my good fellow," said Levy, with great composure, "you need
not threaten me, for what interest can I possibly have in tale-telling
to Lord L'Estrange? Again, dismiss from your mind the absurd thought
that I hate you. True, you snub me in private, you cut me in public,
you refuse to come to my dinners, you'll not ask me to your own; still,
there is no man I like better, nor would more willingly serve. When do
you want the L5,000?"

"Perhaps in one month, perhaps not for three or four. Let it be ready
when required."

"Enough; depend on it. Have you any other commands?"

"None."

"I will take my leave, then. By-the-by, what do you suppose the
Hazeldean rental is worth--net?"

"I don't know, nor care. You have no designs upon that too?"

"Well, I like keeping up family connections. Mr. Frank seems a liberal
young gentleman."

Before Egerton could answer, the baron had glided to the door, and,
nodd