the gift, and
thus rob it of its chief value. If she were to sign the bills, the
money must be made to be forthcoming. So much she understood.

Mr Levy had taken out the four bills from the same case, and had
placed them on the table before him. "Mr Vavasor has explained, I
believe, miss, what it is you have to do?" he said.

"Yes, sir; my cousin has explained."

"And there is nothing else to trouble you with, I believe. If you
will just write your name across them, here, I need not detain you by
staying any longer." Mr Levy was very anxious to make his visit as
short as possible, since he had heard that Mr John Vavasor was in the
house.

But Alice hesitated. Two thousand pounds is a very serious sum of
money. She had heard much of sharpers, and thought that she ought to
be cautious. What if this man, of whom she had never before heard,
should steal the bills after she had signed them? She looked again at
her cousin's letter, chiefly with the object of gaining time.

"It's all right, miss," said Mr Levy.

"Could you not leave them with me, sir?" said Alice.

"Well; not very well, miss. No doubt Mr Vavasor has explained it all;
but the fact is, he must have them this afternoon. He has got a heavy
sum to put down on the nail about this here election, and if it ain't
down to-day, them on whom he has to depend will be all abroad."

"But, sir, the money will not be payable to-day. If I understand it,
they are not cheques."

"No, miss, no; they are not cheques. But your name, miss, at fourteen
days, is the same as ready money;--just the same."

She paused, and while she paused, he reached a pen for her from the
writing-table, and then she signed the four bills as he held them
before her. She was quick enough at doing this when she had once
commenced the work. Her object, then, was that the man should be gone
from the house before her father could meet him.

These were the four bits of paper which George Vavasor tendered to Mr
Scruby's notice on the occasion which we have now in hand. In doing
so, he made use of them after the manner of a grand capitalist, who
knows that he may assume certain airs as he allows the odours of the
sweetness of his wealth to drop from him.

"You insisted on ready money, with your d---- suspicions," said he;
"and there it is. You're not afraid of fourteen days, I dare say."

"Fourteen days is neither here nor there," said Mr Scruby. "We can
let our payments stand over as long as tha