r XXXVI

I fall very much in love with honesty because I find that it is
well received in the world--and to prove my honesty, inform the
whole world that honest I have never been.

I proved the will of Major Carbonnell, in which there was no difficulty;
and then I sat down to consider in what way I might best husband my
resources. The house was in good repair, and well furnished. At the time
that I lived with the Major, we had our drawing-room, and his bedroom,
and another room equally large, used as his dressing-room, on the first
floor. The second floor was appropriated to me, and the sitting-room was
used as a dining-room when we dined at home, which was but seldom. The
basement was let as a shop, at one hundred pounds per annum, but we had
a private door for entrance, and the kitchens and attics. I resolved to
retain only the first floor, and let the remainder of the house; and I
very soon got a tenant at sixty pounds per annum. The attics were
appropriated to Timothy and the servants belonging to the lodger.

After having disposed of what was of no service to me, I found that,
deducting the thousand pounds paid into the banker's, for Lord
Windermear, I had a little above three thousand pounds in ready money,
and what to do with this I could not well decide. I applied to Mr
Masterton, stating the exact amount of my finances, on the day that I
dined with him, and he replied, "You have two good tenants, bringing you
in one hundred and sixty pounds per annum--if this money is put out on
mortgage, I can procure you five per cent., which will be one hundred
and fifty pounds per annum. Now, the question is, do you think that you
can live upon three hundred and ten pounds per annum? You have no rent
to pay, and I should think that, as you are not at any great expense for
a servant, you might, with economy, do very well. Recollect, that if
your money is lent on mortgage, you will not be able to obtain it at a
moment's warning. So reflect well before you decide."

I consulted with Timothy, and agreed to lend the money, reserving about
two hundred pounds to go on with, until I should receive my rents and
interest. On the Friday I went to dine with Mr Masterton, and narrated
what had passed between me and Lady Maelstrom. He was very much
diverted, and laughed immoderately. "Upon my faith, Mr Newland, but you
have a singular species of madness; you first attack Lord Windermear,
then a bishop, and, to crown a