his original opinion; and,
first offering to advance the money from his own purse, suggested that
young Thorpe should relieve himself of the obligation which he had
imprudently contracted, by paying back what he had borrowed, that very
afternoon.

"Get out of his debt," said Valentine, earnestly--"Get out of his debt,
at any rate."

"You don't know him as well as I do," replied Zack. "He wouldn't think
twice about knocking me down, if I showed I distrusted him in that
way--and let me tell you, Blyth, he's one of the few men alive who could
really do it."

"This is no laughing matter, Zack," said Valentine, shaking his head
doubtfully.

"I never was more serious in my life," rejoined Zack. "I won't say I
should be afraid, but I will say I should be ashamed to pay him his
money back on the day when I borrowed it. Why, he even refused to accept
my written acknowledgment of the loan! I only succeeded in forcing it on
him unawares, by slipping it in among his banknotes; and, if he finds
it there, I'll lay you any wager you like, he tears it up, or throws it
into the fire."

Mr. Blyth began to look a little puzzled. The stranger's behavior about
the money was rather staggering, to say the least of it.

"Let me bring him to your picture-show," pursued Zack. "Judge of him
yourself, before you condemn him. Surely I can't say fairer than that?
May I bring him to see the pictures? Or will you come back at once with
me to Kirk Street, where he lives?"

"I must write to your mother, before I do any thing else; and I have
work in hand besides for to-day and tomorrow," said Valentine. "All
things considered, you had better bring your friend as you proposed just
now. But remember the distinction I always make between my public studio
and my private house. I consider the glorious mission of Art to apply to
everybody; so I am proud to open my painting room to any honest man who
wants to look at my pictures. But the freedom of my other rooms is only
for my own friends. I can't have strangers brought up stairs: remember
that."

"Of course! I shouldn't think of it, my dear fellow. Only you look at
old Rough and Tough, and hear him talk; and I'll answer for the rest."

"Ah, Zack! Zack! I wish you were not so dreadfully careless about whom
you get acquainted with. I have often warned you that you will bring
yourself or your friends into trouble some day, when you least expect
it. Where are you going now?"

"Back to Kirk Street.