nce
to please a lady's eye, or to impose upon a West-End tradesman--a check
shirt--a rough pea-jacket, his hands buried in its pockets.

Poole started with well--simulated surprise. "What, you! I am just going
to my office--in a great hurry at present."

"Hurry or not, I must and will speak to you," said Jasper, doggedly.

"What now? then, step in;--only remember I can't give you more than
five minutes."

The rude visitor followed Poole into the back parlour, and closed the
door after him.

Leaning his arm over a chair, his hat still on his head, Losely fixed
his fierce eyes on his old friend, and said in a low, set, deterinined
voice: "Now, mark me, Dolly Poole, if you think to shirk my business, or
throw me over, you'll find yourself in Queer Street. Have you called on
Guy Darrell, and put my case to him, or have you not?"

"I met Mr. Darrell only last night, at a very genteel party." (Poole
deemed it prudent not to say by WHOM that genteel party was given, for
it will be remembered that Poole had been Jasper's confidant in that
adventurer's former designs upon Mrs. Haughton; and if Jasper knew
that Poole had made her acquaintance, might he not insist upon Poole's
reintroducing him as a visiting acquaintance?) "A very genteel party,"
repeated Poole. "I made a point of being presented to Mr. Darrell, and
very polite he was at first."

"Curse his politeness--get to the point."

"I sounded my way very carefully, as you may suppose; and when I had
got him into friendly chat, you understand, I began; Ah! my poor Losely,
nothing to be done there--he flew off in a tangent--as much as desired
me to mind my own business, and hold my tongue; and upon my life, I
don't think there is a chance for you in that quarter."

"Very well--we shall see. Next, have you taken any steps to find out the
girl, my daughter?"

"I have, I assure you. But you give me so slight a clue. Are you quite
sure she is not in America after all?"

"I have told you before that that story about America was all bosh! a
stratagem of the old gentleman's to deceive me. Poor old man," continued
Jasper, in a tone that positively betrayed feeling, "I don't wonder that
he dreads and flies me; yet I would not hurt him more than I have done,
even to be as well off as you are--blinking at me from your mahogany
perch like a pet owl with its crop full of mice. And if I would take the
girl from him, it is for her own good. For if Darrell could be got to
make