interest to say this. I can credit as much of it as I
please."

"You are insulting! You presume on the power a knowledge of my affairs
has given you. I will look for a more honourable agent the next time."

"Honourable! Ha! ha!" The visitor laughed in a low, guttural voice.

"Martin! I will not hear this from any living man."

The face of Jasper was almost purple with suppressed anger.

"Go!" he added. "Leave my house instantly. I defy you!"

Scarcely had these words passed his lips, ere Martin glided from the
drawing-room, and in a few moments the street-door shut with a heavy,
reverberating jar.

The merchant stood, like one bewildered, for a few moments, and then,
as he sank into a chair, uttered a low groan. For a long time he
remained as motionless as if sleeping.

CHAPTER XVI.

On leaving the house of Jasper, Martin--who, instead of having been in
the city only a few hours, arrived two days previously--took his
way to the office of Grind, the lawyer. He had seen this individual
already several times, and now called on him again by appointment. The
two men, on meeting, exchanged looks of intelligence.

"Did you see him?" asked the lawyer, as Martin took a proffered chair.

"I saw him," was replied.

"Can you make any thing out of him?'

"I think so. He fights a little hard; but the odds are against him."

"How much did you ask him to loan you?"

"Ten thousand?"

"Martin! That's cutting a little too sharp."

"Not a hit. He'll never miss such a trifle."

"You can't bleed him that deep," said the lawyer.

"Can't I? You'll see; I could get twenty thousand. But I'm disposed to
be generous. Ten thousand I must and will have."

And the man laughed in a low, self-satisfied, sinister chuckle.

"He's able enough," remarked Grind.

"So you have told me. And if he is able, he must pay. I helped him
to a fortune, and it is but fair that he should help me a little, now
that a fortune is in my grasp. I only want the money as a loan."

"Wouldn't five thousand answer your purpose?" asked the lawyer. "That
is a large sum. It is not a very easy matter for even a rich man, who
is engaged heavily in business, to lay down ten thousand dollars at
call."

"Five thousand will not do, Mr. Grind."

"Jasper has lost, to my certain knowledge, twenty thousand dollars in
three months."

"So much?"

"At least that sum. Money came in so fast, that he grew a little wild
in his speculations, and played his