e cadence of a heavy sigh. Abel never looked up as the other
entered, but, affecting the deepest preoccupation, went on with his
figures.

"Morrow, Abel," said Dalton, as he threw himself into a chair, and,
removing his hat, began to wipe his forehead with his handkerchief.
"This is a murdering hot day. It's not ten yet, and the sun's roasting!"

"Fine weather for de harvest, Herr von Dalton, but a leetle rain do no
harm."

"Faix! I think not; neither to man nor beast."

Abel grinned at the brawny throat and massive proportions that seemed so
unequal to sustain the heat, but said nothing.

"How's the exchange, Abel?" said Peter; "how's the exchange?"

Now, in justice to our worthy friend Dalton, we must own that he put
this question without having the very remotest idea of its meaning. An
inscription from the tomb of the Pharaohs would have been to the full as
intelligible to him as an abstract from the "City Article." He asked
it as certain "charming women" inquire about the compass on board
ship,--something, in fact, suitable to the time and place, and proper to
be done on like occasions.

"De exchange is very uncertain; de market is up and down," said Abel,
dryly.

"That's bad," said Dalton, gravely,----"that's very bad!"

"De Mongolian loan is de reason," rejoined Abel.

Dalton gave a grunt, that might mean assent or displeasure with that
view of the case, but did not trust himself with more.

"Dey will not take de scrip at eighty-two, and I tink dey are right."

"Faix! I don't doubt but that they are!" chimed in Peter.

"Dey are right, if all be true we hear of de security. It is de mines
of de State dat are hypotheked,--how you call it,--what you say,
'hypotheked'?"

Dalton was completely puzzled now, and could only scratch his ear,--his
invariable symptom of utter discomfiture.

"Tis no matter," cried Abel, with a grating, harsh laugh. "Dey promise,
and no pay; and dat is very bad--ha! ha! ha!"

Now Dalton joined in the laugh, but with as ill a grace as needs be.

"Dey promise, and dey no pay, Herr von Dalton!" repeated the Jew,
with another laugh, as though he could not tear himself away from so
excellent a jest. "Dey borrow, dat dey may make explorations--how you
call dem--wit oder men's money. If dey de win, well! if dey lose--bah!
dey are bankrupt!"

Now, all these allusions were of the most provoking character to poor
Dalton, who could not help feeling a very different sympathy for
the