th prey that from them
no further annoyance need be dreaded? All this Mr. Forrest could do;
nay, more, most willingly would do! Only let Mark Robarts put himself
into the banker's hand, and blandly sign what documents the banker
might desire. "This is a very unpleasant affair," said Mr. Forrest as
soon as they were closeted together in Mark's book-room. In answer
to which observation the parson acknowledged that it was a very
unpleasant affair.

"Mr. Sowerby has managed to put you into the hands of about the worst
set of rogues now existing in their line of business in London."

"So I suppose; Curling told me the same." Curling was the Barchester
attorney whose aid he had lately invoked.

"Curling has threatened them that he will expose their whole trade;
but one of them who was down here, a man named Tozer, replied, that
you had much more to lose by exposure than he had. He went further,
and declared that he would defy any jury in England to refuse him his
money. He swore that he discounted both bills in the regular way of
business; and, though this is of course false, I fear that it will be
impossible to prove it so. He well knows that you are a clergyman,
and that, therefore, he has a stronger hold on you than on other
men."

"The disgrace shall fall on Sowerby," said Robarts, hardly actuated
at the moment by any strong feeling of Christian forgiveness.

"I fear, Mr. Robarts, that he is somewhat in the condition of the
Tozers. He will not feel it as you will do."

"I must bear it, Mr. Forrest, as best I may."

"Will you allow me, Mr. Robarts, to give you my advice? Perhaps
I ought to apologize for intruding it upon you; but as the bills
have been presented and dishonoured across my counter, I have, of
necessity, become acquainted with the circumstances."

"I am sure I am very much obliged to you," said Mark.

"You must pay this money, at any rate, the most considerable portion
of it;--the whole of it, indeed, with such deduction as a lawyer
may be able to induce these hawks to make on the sight of the ready
money. Perhaps L750 or L800 may see you clear of the whole affair."

"But I have not a quarter of that sum lying by me."

"No, I suppose not; but what I would recommend is this:
that you should borrow the money from the bank, on your own
responsibility,--with the joint security of some friend who may be
willing to assist you with his name. Lord Lufton probably would do
it."

"No, Mr. Forrest--"