e thought they would be run-away
suits, and I was working so hard for nothing. But I must pocket the
loss, I suppose, and comfort me, remembering this is the first time a
rascal has bit me. How much did they owe you, Square, considerable?"

"I know not as I can say positively, that they owe me anything," said
Fabens, as soon as he could crowd in a word of reply to the talkative
tailor's question; "but it must be, I shall lose by them. I loaned my
note to Fairbanks, a few weeks agony [Transcriber's note: ago,
agone?]--my note at the bank for three hundred dollars. I expect I
shall have that to pay, and I know not how much more."

"Why, of all things! they've bit you hard, you may depend!" exclaimed
the astonished tailor.

"Is it possible that they are such deceivers?" asked Fabens, in an
agony of grief.

"They are dreadful creatures; there's no mistake about that, I guess,"
said the tailor.

"But they always looked honest and friendly," said Fabens.

"And so can old Bill Shazzar, and old Bill Zebub, look honest and
friendly too, when they want to come it on a fellow," said the tailor.

"Who next can we trust?" exclaimed Fabens, wounded as deeply by the
deception as by the loss. "Where was my reason? Where were my senses
all this while? Why didn't I take my wife's advice, when she gave it
with tears in her eyes? I dread to go to the bank and see how matters
are."

XXVI.

ANOTHER WEEK OF REALITY.

Before Fabens left town for Auburn, to inquire at the bank, concerning
his paper, an officer of the bank met him, having been to his house,
and followed him here, and he disclosed the fact that Fabens was liable
for a thousand dollars, not one of the old notes having been paid. "My
worst fears are realized!" cried Fabens, the cold sweat starting out in
beads on his forehead.

"Why was I so heedless? And is this all right, sir? Could you not
have warned me of my danger before it went so far? You must have known
that something was going wrong in that fellow's affairs; and why was I
kept in the dark to this hour?"

He was answered that the villains had managed so adroitly, they did not
suspect deception, till too late. "But we are not at all alarmed,
Squire Fabens, concerning the amount for which you are liable to us,"
said the gentleman. "We _know_ you are good and honest. We will give
you all reasonable time to cancel the notes. I regret sincerely, that
you have met such a loss, Squire Fabens.