you will only let me know what it is."

"You must be particularly dull not to perceive it," replied the parson,
"aware, as you are, of the unexpected state of my circumstances. In
short, I want you to assist me with a few hundreds."

The proctor, after a pause, replied, "You place me in circumstances of
great difficulty, sir; I am indeed anxious to oblige you, but I know
not whether I can do so with honor, without violating my good faith to
another party."

"I don't understand you," said Turbot.

"Then I shall explain it," replied Purcel; "the sum I can command is one
of four hundred, which is at this moment virtually lent upon excellent
security, at an interest of eight per cent. The loan is certainly not
legally completed, but morally and in point of honor it is. Now, if I
lend this money to you, sir, I must break my word and verbal agreement
to the party in question."

"Very well, sir," replied the rector, who, notwithstanding the love
he bore his "little luxuries," was scrupulously honorable in all money
transactions, "don't attempt to break word, or to violate good faith
with any man; and least of all, on my account. I presume I shall be able
to raise the money somewhere else."

Purcel, who had uniformly found the doctor a sharp, but correct man
in matters,of business, and who knew besides the severe pressure under
which he labored at the moment, was not exactly prepared to hear from
him the expression of a principle so high-minded. He paused again
for some time, during which he reasoned with himself somewhat to the
following effect:--"I did not expect this from the worthy doctor, but
I did, that he would at once have advised me to break the agreement I
mentioned and lend himself the money. I cannot think there will be
much risk in lending such a man a few hundreds, especially as no such
agreement as I allude to exists." He then replied as follows:--

"Doctor," he proceeded, "I have been thinking over this matter; I know
you want the money, and I am sorry for it. That I have myself been a
gainer by my connection with you, I will not attempt to deny, and I do
not think that I should be grateful or a sincere friend to you, if I saw
you now in such grievous and unexpected embarrassments without making an
effort to assist you. You shall have the four hundred, if you consent to
the same rate of interest I was about to receive for it from the other
party."

"Then you will break faith with him," replied the doct