he rate of a
couple of guineas a day.

'Well, here I am,' said Mr. Watkins, as he sat down on the sofa; and
placing the palms of his hands on his knees, anxiously glanced at his
friend's countenance.

'Yes; and here you're likely to be,' said Gabriel, coolly, as he rattled
the money in his unmentionable pockets, and looked out of the window.

'What's the amount with the costs?' inquired Parsons, after an awkward
pause.

'Have you any money?'

'Nine and sixpence halfpenny.'

Mr. Gabriel Parsons walked up and down the room for a few seconds, before
he could make up his mind to disclose the plan he had formed; he was
accustomed to drive hard bargains, but was always most anxious to conceal
his avarice. At length he stopped short, and said, 'Tottle, you owe me
fifty pounds.'

'I do.'

'And from all I see, I infer that you are likely to owe it to me.'

'I fear I am.'

'Though you have every disposition to pay me if you could?'

'Certainly.'

'Then,' said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, 'listen: here's my proposition. You
know my way of old. Accept it--yes or no--I will or I won't. I'll pay
the debt and costs, and I'll lend you 10_l._ more (which, added to your
annuity, will enable you to carry on the war well) if you'll give me your
note of hand to pay me one hundred and fifty pounds within six months
after you are married to Miss Lillerton.'

'My dear--'

'Stop a minute--on one condition; and that is, that you propose to Miss
Lillerton at once.'

'At once! My dear Parsons, consider.'

'It's for you to consider, not me. She knows you well from reputation,
though she did not know you personally until lately. Notwithstanding all
her maiden modesty, I think she'd be devilish glad to get married out of
hand with as little delay as possible. My wife has sounded her on the
subject, and she has confessed.'

'What--what?' eagerly interrupted the enamoured Watkins.

'Why,' replied Parsons, 'to say exactly what she has confessed, would be
rather difficult, because they only spoke in hints, and so forth; but my
wife, who is no bad judge in these cases, declared to me that what she
had confessed was as good as to say that she was not insensible of your
merits--in fact, that no other man should have her.'

Mr. Watkins Tottle rose hastily from his seat, and rang the bell.

'What's that for?' inquired Parsons.

'I want to send the man for the bill stamp,' replied Mr. Watkins Tottle.

'Then you've made up your min