ho, from want of reflection, often ruin themselves for
life. I hope the young gentleman in question is not in the hands of the
Jews?"

RANDAL.--"Christians are as fond of good interest for their money as
ever the Jews can be."

BARON.--"Granted, but they have not always so much money to lend. The
first thing, sir" (addressing the squire),--"the first thing for you to
do is to buy up such of your relation's bills and notes of hand as may
be in the market. No doubt we can get them a bargain, unless the young
man is heir to some property that may soon be his in the course of
nature."

RANDAL.--"Not soon--Heaven forbid! His father is still a young
man,--a fine healthy man," leaning heavily on Levy's arm; "and as to
post-obits--"

BARON.--"Post-obits on sound security cost more to buy up, however
healthy the obstructing relative may be."

RANDAL.--"I should hope that there are not many sons who can calculate,
in cold blood, on the death of their fathers."

BARON.--"Ha, ha! He is young, our friend Randal; eh, sir?"

RANDAL.--"Well, I am not more scrupulous than others, I dare say; and I
have often been pinched hard for money, but I would go barefoot rather
than give security upon a father's grave! I can imagine nothing more
likely to destroy natural feeling, nor to instil ingratitude and
treachery into the whole character, than to press the hand of a
parent, and calculate when that hand may be dust; than to sit down with
strangers and reduce his life to the measure of an insurance-table;
than to feel difficulties gathering round one, and mutter in fashionable
slang, 'But it will be all well if the governor would but die.' And he
who has accustomed himself to the relief of post-obits must gradually
harden his mind to all this."

The squire groaned heavily; and had Randal proceeded another sentence in
the same strain, the squire would have wept outright. "But," continued
Randal, altering the tone of his voice, "I think that our young friend,
of whom we were talking just now, Levy, before this gentleman joined us,
has the same opinions as myself on this head. He may accept bills, but
he would never sign post-obits."

BARON (who, with the apt docility of a managed charger to the touch of
a rider's hand, had comprehended and complied with each quick sign of
Randal's).--"Pooh! the young fellow we are talking of? Nonsense.
He would not be so foolish as to give five times the percentage he
otherwise might. Not sign post-o