ony took the order from his pocket-book.

"Is it possible! The philosopher's stone is no fable, if words of yours
could extract gold from a heart of flint. Brave Anthony! you have
wrought a miracle. But let me look at the order. Seeing's believing; and
I cannot believe such an improbable thing without I witness it with my
own eyes."

"Nay, convince yourself of the truth, Godfrey. What object can I have in
attempting to deceive you? It would be against my own interest so to do,
as you are still my debtor for two hundred pounds."

Godfrey took the paper from his cousin's hand, and went to the table to
examine it by the light. As he glanced over the contents he gave a
sudden exclamation of surprise, and a smile curled his lip.

"Do you believe me now?" said Anthony, who knew not exactly how to
interpret the dubious expression of Godfrey's face.

"Read for yourself," returned Godfrey, giving back the paper. "When you
deal with such an accomplished scoundrel as Mark Hurdlestone, you should
give the devil a retaining fee."

"What do you mean, Godfrey?" and his cousin eagerly snatched the paper
from his grasp. "He has not dared to deceive me!"

Still, as he read, his countenance fell, a deadly paleness suddenly
pervaded his features, and uttering a faint moan, in which all the
bitter disappointment he experienced was visibly concentrated, he sank
down in a swoon at Godfrey's feet.

"What on earth's the matter with the lad?" said Mathews, as he assisted
Godfrey in lifting him to the sofa. "What's in the wind?"

"A capital joke," whispered Godfrey. "I could almost love the old sinner
for his caustic humor. The order for the money is drawn up in the usual
manner, but instead of the words '_To pay_,' the crafty old fox has
written, '_Not to pay_ the bearer the sum of four hundred pounds.'"

"Excellent! But let old skinflint look to himself; with that malignant
joke he has signed his own death-warrant."

Anthony by this time had recovered from his swoon. But he sat like one
stupefied; his throbbing temples resting upon his hands, and his eyes
fixed on vacancy. Godfrey's voice at length roused him to a recollection
of what had happened, and in faint tones, he requested his two
companions to leave him.

"Not in this state of mind. Come, Anthony, clear up that cloudy brow. I
am sorry, sorry that I have been the means of drawing you into this ugly
scrape, but for my poor father's sake you must forgive me. If you were
to m