d
Sir Lemuel Levison that the mining company in which he had invested his
ward's fortune was on the eve of an explosion. As no one else perceived
the impending catastrophe, Sir Lemuel Levison was enabled to sell out his
ward's stock at a good premium some days before the crash came--not an
honest measure by any means, _we_ think, but--a perfectly
business-like one.

He informed John Scott of the transaction, telling him at the same time
that he had the capital of thirty thousand pounds in his possession,
ready to be re-invested, and the premium of three hundred pounds, which
last was at the orders of Mr. Scott.

Mr. Scott was not contented with the three hundred pounds premium. He
wanted a few thousands out of the capital, and he wrote and told his
trustee as much.

Sir Lemuel Levison was firm in refusing to diminish the capital that had
been placed in his hands for the benefit of the spendthrift.

Then John Scott in a rage, went up to London and called at the banking
house of Levison Brothers.

Being admitted to the private office of Sir Lemuel Levison, the young man
used some very intemperate language, accusing the great banker of
appropriating his own contemptible little fortune for private and
unhallowed purposes.

"You are the most unmitigated scamp alive, and I wish I had never had
anything to do with you; however, I will convince you that you have
wronged me, and then I will wash my hands of you!" exclaimed the banker.

And so saying, he unlocked a great patent safe that stood in his private
office, took from it a small iron box, and set it on his desk before him,
in full sight of his visitor.

"See here," he continued; "here is this box, read the inscription on it."

The visitor stooped over and read--in brass letters--the following
sentence: "John Scott--L30,000."

"Now, sir," continued the banker, opening the box and displaying the
treasure, all in crisp, new, Bank of England notes of a thousand pounds
each--"here is your money. I cannot betray my trust by giving it into
your hands. But I intend, nevertheless, to resign my trust into the hands
that gave it me. I am going down to Lone to celebrate the marriage of my
daughter with the Marquis of Arondelle, and I shall take this box and its
contents down with me. I shall, of course, meet the Duke of Hereward
there. As soon as the marriage is over, and the pair gone on their tour,
I shall deliver this box with its contents over to the duke, who can the