. "Yesterday was the
last day fixed for the payment of the money," said Mr. Hartlepod.

"It is at any rate certain that Mr. Lopez is not to go to Guatemala?"
asked Mr. Wharton.

"Quite certain," said Mr. Hartlepod. Then Mr. Wharton rose from his
chair and quitted the room.

"By G----, you have ruined me among you," said Lopez;--"ruined me
in the most shameful manner. There is no mercy, no friendship, no
kindness, no forbearance anywhere! Why am I to be treated in this
manner?"

"If you have any complaint to make," said Mr. Hartlepod, "you had
better write to the Directors. I have nothing to do but my duty."

"By heavens, the Directors shall hear of it!" said Lopez as he left
the office.

Mr. Wharton went to his chambers and endeavoured to make up his mind
what step he must now take in reference to this dreadful incubus.
Of course he could turn the man out of his house, but in so doing
it might well be that he would also turn out his own daughter. He
believed Lopez to be utterly without means, and a man so destitute
would generally be glad to be relieved from the burden of his wife's
support. But this man would care nothing for his wife's comfort;
nothing even, as Mr. Wharton believed, for his wife's life. He would
simply use his wife as best he might as a means for obtaining money.
There was nothing to be done but to buy him off, by so much money
down, and by so much at stated intervals as long as he should keep
away. Mr. Walker must manage it, but it was quite clear to Mr.
Wharton that the Guatemala scheme was altogether at an end. In
the meantime a certain sum must be offered to the man at once, on
condition that he would leave the house and do so without taking his
wife with him.

So far Mr. Wharton had a plan, and a plan that was at least feasible.
Wretched as he was, miserable, as he thought of the fate which had
befallen his daughter,--there was still a prospect of some relief.
But Lopez as he walked out of the office had nothing to which he
could look for comfort. He slowly made his way to Little Tankard
Yard, and there he found Sexty Parker balancing himself on the back
legs of his chair, with a small decanter of public-house sherry
before him. "What; you here?" he said.

"Yes;--I have come to say good-bye."

"Where are you going then? You shan't start to Guatemala if I know
it."

"That's all over, my boy," said Lopez, smiling.

"What is it you mean?" said Sexty, sitting square on his chair and