y say, _particeps criminis_, or in other words, as having been a party
to this extortion. Indeed, Mr Wallace, some reduction must be made, or
you will greatly hurt the credit of your house."

Mr Wallace declared, that really he had made nothing but the usual
charges; that he would look over the bill again, and see what he could
do.

"My dear Newland," said the Major, "I have ordered your dinners, allow
me to settle your bill. Now, Mr Wallace, suppose we take off
_one-third_?"

"One-_third_, Major Carbonnell! I should be a loser."

"I am not exactly of your opinion; but let me see--now take your choice.
Take off L20, or you lose my patronage, and that of all my friends. Yes
or no?"

The landlord, with some expostulation, at last consented, he receipted
the bill, and leaving L20 of the money on the salver, made his bow, and
retired.

"Rather fortunate that I supped in, my dear Newland; now there are L20
saved. By-the-bye, I'm short of cash. You've no objection to let me have
this? I shall never pay you, you know."

"I do know you _never_ will pay me, Major; nevertheless, as I should
have paid it to the landlord had you not interfered, I will lend it to
you."

"You are a good fellow, Newland," said the Major, pocketing the money.
"If I had borrowed it, and you had thought you would have had it repaid,
I should not have thanked you; but as you lend it me with your eyes
open, it is nothing more than a very delicate manner of obliging me,
and I tell you candidly, that I will not forget it. So you really are
off to-morrow?"

"Yes," replied I, "I must go, for I find that I am not to make ducks and
drakes of my money, until I come into possession of my property."

"I see, my dear fellow. Executors are the very devil; they have no
feeling. Never mind; there's a way of getting to windward of them. I
dine with Harcourt, and he has come to ask you to join us."

"With pleasure."

"I shall expect you at seven, Newland," said Harcourt, as he quitted the
room with the Major.

"Dear me, sir, how could you let that gentleman walk off with your
money?" cried Timothy. "I was just rubbing my hands with the idea that
we were L20 better off than we thought, and away it went, like smoke."

"And will never come back again, Tim; but never mind that, it is
important that I make a friend of him, and his friendship is only to be
bought. I shall have value received. And now, Tim, we must pack up, for
I leave this to-morrow morning.