erve. He could
lay his hand on his heart and assure himself that he had treated that
mad, pig-headed tradesman well in all respects. He knew himself to
be the last man to make a promise, and then to break it wilfully. He
had certainly borrowed money of Neefit;--and at the probable cost
of all his future happiness he had, with a nobleness which he could
not himself sufficiently admire, done his very best to keep the
hard terms which in his distress he had allowed to be imposed upon
himself. He had been loyal, even to the breeches-maker;--and this was
the return which was made to him!

What was he to do, should Neefit cling to his threat and remain
permanently at his chambers? There were the police, and no doubt
he could rid himself of his persecutor. But he understood well the
barbarous power which some underbred, well-trained barrister would
have of asking him questions which it would be so very disagreeable
for him to answer! He lacked the courage to send for the police.
Jacky Joram had just distinguished himself greatly, and nearly
exterminated a young gentleman who had married one girl while he was
engaged to another. Jacky Joram might ask him questions as to his
little dinners at Alexandra Lodge, which it would nearly kill him
to answer. He was very unhappy, and began to think that it might
be as well that he should travel for twelve months. Neefit could
not persecute him up the Nile, or among the Rocky Mountains. And
perhaps Clary's ferocity would have left her were he to return after
twelve months of glorious journeyings, still constant to his first
affections. In the meantime he did not dare to go home till it would
be absolutely necessary that he should dress for dinner.

In the billiard-room of his club he found Lord Polperrow,--the eldest
son of the Marquis of Megavissey,--pretty Poll, as he was called by
many young men, and by some young ladies, about town. Lord Polperrow
had become his fast friend since the day on which his heirship was
established, and now encountered him with friendly intimacy. "Halloa,
Newton," said the young lord, "have you seen old Neefit lately?"
There were eight or ten men in the room, and suddenly there was
silence among the cues.

Ralph would have given his best horse to be able to laugh it off, but
he found that he could not laugh. He became very hot, and knew that
he was red in the face. "What about old Neefit?" he said.

"I've just come from Conduit Street, and he says that