d; "lend me a shilling till Monday, I
want it particularly."

"I'm awfully sorry," replied Edwards, "I have not got one."

"I'll pay you back on Monday, honour bright."

"I know you would; it isn't that. I assure you I am not making excuses;
you should have it directly if it were possible; but I am as penniless
as a fellow can be, not so much as a postage-stamp have I got."

"I must get a shilling somehow; whom to ask?"

"Ask Griffiths; he always has money," suggested Edwards.

"Hang the fellow, yes," said Saurin. "But he will make such a favour of
it if he lends it, and he is just as likely as not to refuse. I have
it, though! He offered me half-a-crown for my crossbow last term, and I
would not let him have it; he shall now."

The crossbow in question was an ingenious little thing about six inches
long, the bow of steel, the string of catgut, the stock and barrel of
wood, and it projected marbles or spherical bullets with very
considerable force. It would raise a bump on the head at twenty yards,
and break a window at thirty. Griffiths also lived in Mr Cookson's
house, so that Saurin had only to go to his own room, get out, dust, and
rub up the article, which had lain in a corner forgotten, and go up the
other staircase.

"I say, Griffiths," he began; "in turning out some old things I have
just come across this little steel bow which you wanted to buy of me,
you know. I am tired of it now, and so you can have it if you like.
Half-a-crown, I think, you said that you would give, was it not?"

Griffiths coveted the toy as much or more than ever he had done, but he
was a born dealer; and when he saw that the other was anxious to sell he
assumed indifference in order to lower the price.

"Why, you see," he said, "last term is not this term. I was pretty
flush just then, and had a fancy for the thing. Now the money has gone,
and I don't so much care."

"You won't have it then? oh! very well; all right."

"Stop, don't be in a hurry; I'll give you eighteenpence for it."

"Make it two shillings," urged Saurin.

"No; eighteenpence or nothing," Griffiths persisted.

"You old Jew! Well, here it is then," said Saurin.

"Have you got a shilling?" asked Griffiths. "I have only got half-a-
crown; but if you can give me change--"

Saurin took the coin, giving back a shilling without further remark. He
was thinking that it would be more effective to offer Crawley the larger
coin, instead of fumbling with