lls?" she asked, with the savage contempt for her
own poverty, which was one of the dangerous elements in her character.
"See the place I live in, young woman, and then talk about smells if you
like!"

This was indelicate. Phoebe picked a last oyster out of its shell, and
kept her eyes modestly fixed on her plate. Observing that the second
glass of gin-and-water was fast becoming empty, Jervy risked the first
advances, on his way to Mrs. Sowler's confidence.

"About that debt of Farnaby's?" he began. "Is it a debt of long
standing?"

Mrs. Sowler was on her guard. In other words, Mrs. Sowler's head was
only assailable by hot grog, when hot grog was administered in large
quantities. She said it was a debt of long standing, and she said no
more.

"Has it been standing seven years?"

Mrs. Sowler emptied her glass, and looked hard at Jervy across the
table. "My memory isn't good for much, at my time of life." She gave him
that answer, and she gave him no more.

Jervy yielded with his best grace. "Try a third glass," he said;
"there's luck, you know, in odd numbers."

Mrs. Sowler met this advance in the spirit in which it was made. She was
obliging enough to consult her memory, even before the third glass made
its appearance. "Seven years, did you say?" she repeated. "More than
twice seven years, Jervy! What do you think of that?"

Jervy wasted no time in thinking. He went on with his questions.

"Are you quite sure that the man I pointed out to you, at the lecture,
is the same man who went by the name of Morgan, and had his letters
addressed to the public-house?"

"Quite sure. I'd swear to him anywhere--only by his eyes."

"And have you never yet asked him to pay the debt?"

"How could I ask him, when I never knew what his name was till you told
me to-night?"

"What amount of money does he owe you?"

Whether Mrs. Sowler had her mind prophetically fixed on a fourth glass
of grog, or whether she thought it time to begin asking questions on her
own account, is not easy to say. Whatever her motive might be, she slyly
shook her head, and winked at Jervy. "The money's my business," she
remarked. "You tell me where he lives--and I'll make him pay me."

Jervy was equal to the occasion. "You won't do anything of the sort," he
said.

Mrs. Sowler laughed defiantly. "So you think, my fine fellow!"

"I don't think at all, old lady--I'm certain. In the first place,
Farnaby don't owe you the debt by law, after seven y