verboard
as sure as I'm a living woman. I will indeed. I'll have no mercy.
I've stuck to you, and made a man of you, and I expect you to stick
to me."

"Not much of a man," said Musselboro, with a touch of scorn in his
voice.

"You've never had a shilling yet but what I gave you."

"Yes; I have. I've had what I've worked for,--and worked confounded
hard too."

"Look here, Musselboro; if you're going to throw me over, just tell
me so, and let us begin fair."

"I'm not going to throw you over. I've always been on the square with
you. Why don't you trust me out and out, and then I could do a deal
better for you. You ask me now about your money. I don't know about
your money, Mrs. Van Siever. How am I to know anything about your
money, Mrs. Van Siever? You don't give me any power of keeping a
hand upon Dobbs Broughton. I suppose you have security from Dobbs
Broughton, but I don't know what security you have, Mrs. Van Siever.
He owes you now L915 16s 2d on last year's account!"

"Why doesn't he give me a cheque for the money?"

"He says he can't spare it. You may have L500, and the rest when he
can give it to you. Or he'll give you his note-of-hand at fourteen
days for the whole."

"Bother his note-of-hand. Why should I take his note-of-hand?"

"Do as you like, Mrs. Van Siever."

"It's the interest on my own money. Why don't he give it me? I
suppose he has had it."

"You must ask him that, Mrs. Van Siever. You're in partnership with
him, and he can tell you. Nobody else knows anything about it. If you
were in partnership with me, then of course I could tell you. But
you're not. You've never trusted me, Mrs. Van Siever."

The lady remained there closeted with Mr. Musselboro for an hour after
that, and did, I think, at length learn something more as to the
details of her partner's business, than her faithful servant Mr
Musselboro had at first found himself able to give to her. And at
last they came to friendly and confidential terms, in the midst
of which the personal welfare of Mr. Dobbs Broughton was, I fear,
somewhat forgotten. Not that Mr. Musselboro palpably and plainly threw
his friend overboard. He took his friend's part,--alleging excuses
for him, and pleading some facts. "Of course, you know, a man like
that is fond of pleasure, Mrs. Van Siever. He's been at it more or
less all his life. I don't suppose he ever missed a Derby or an Oaks,
or the cup at Ascot, or the Goodwood in his life." "He'll have t