ets into a scrape
himself, called my own scruples foolish. However--"

"Stay--Randal Leslie! What! He advised you to borrow on a post-obit, and
probably shared the loan with you?"

"Oh, no; not a shilling."

"Tell me all about it, Frank. Perhaps, as I see that Levy is mixed up in
the affair, your information may be useful to myself, and put me on my
guard in dealing with that popular gentleman."

Frank, who somehow or other felt himself quite at home with Harley,
and who, with all his respect for Randal Leslie's talents, had a vague
notion that Lord L'Estrange was quite as clever, and, from his years
and experience, likely to be a safer and more judicious counsellor, was
noways loath to impart the confidence thus pressed for.

He told Harley of his debts, his first dealings with Levy, the unhappy
post-obit into which he had been hurried by the distress of Madame di
Negra; his father's anger, his mother's letter, his own feelings of
mingled shame and pride, which made him fear that repentance would but
seem self-interest, his desire to sell his commission, and let its sale
redeem in part the post-obit; in short, he made what is called a clean
breast of it. Randal Leslie was necessarily mixed up with this recital;
and the subtle cross-questionings of Harley extracted far more as to
that young diplomatist's agency in all these melancholy concerns than
the ingenuous narrator himself was aware of.

"So then," said Harley, "Mr. Leslie assured you of Madame di Negra's
affection, when you yourself doubted of it?"

"Yes; she took him in, even more than she did me."

"Simple Mr. Leslie! And the same kind friend?--who is related to you,
did you say?"

"His grandmother was a Hazeldean."

"Humph. The same kind relation led you to believe that you could pay
off this bond with the marchesa's portion, and that he could obtain the
consent of your parents to your marriage with that lady?"

"I ought to have known better; my father's prejudices against foreigners
and Papists are so strong."

"And now Mr. Leslie concurs with you, that it is best for you to
go abroad, and trust to his intercession with your father. He has
evidently, then, gained a great influence over Mr. Hazeldean."

"My father naturally compares me with him,--he so clever, so promising,
so regular in his habits, and I such a reckless scapegrace."

"And the bulk of your father's property is unentailed; Mr. Hazeldean
might disinherit you?"

"I deserve it.