re you pretend to have lent that sum; and I have, this
very morning, paid one quarter's interest, as appears from this receipt,
which you may peruse for your satisfaction."

Peregrine was so thunderstruck at this information, which stripped him
of his all, that he could not utter one word; a circumstance that did
no great honour to his character in the opinion of the steward, who,
in good earnest, began to entertain some doubts of his integrity. For,
among the papers of the deceased, which he had examined, there was no
writing, memorandum, or receipt relating to this encumbrance. After a
long pause of stupefaction, Peregrine recollected himself so far as to
observe, that either he was egregiously mistaken, or the predecessor of
his lord the greatest villain upon earth. "But, Mr. Whatd'ycallum," said
he, "you must give me leave to tell you, that your bare assertion in
this affair will by no means induce me to put up quietly with the loss
of ten thousand pounds."

Having thus expressed himself, he retired from the house so discontented
at this demur, that he scarce knew whether he moved upon his head or
heels; and the park chancing to be in his way, he sauntered about,
giving vent to a soliloquy in praise of his departed friend, the burden
of which was a string of incoherent curses imprecated upon himself; till
his transports by degrees giving way to his reflection, he deliberated
seriously and sorrowfully upon his misfortune, and resolved to consult
lawyers without loss of time. But, first of all, he proposed to make
personal application to the heir, who, by a candid representation of
the case, might be inclined to do him justice. In consequence of this
determination, he next morning put his writings in his pocket, and went
in a chair to the house of the young nobleman, to whom, being admitted
by virtue of his appearance, and a small gratification to the porter, he
explained the whole affair, corroborating his assertions with the papers
which he produced, and describing the disgrace that would be entailed
upon the memory of the deceased, should he be obliged to seek redress in
a public court of justice.

The executor, who was a person of good breeding, condoled him upon his
loss with great good-nature, though he did not seem much surprised at
his account of the matter; but wished, that, since the fraud must have
been committed, the damage had fallen upon the first mortgager, who,
he said, was a thievish usurer, grown r