thinks that poor Mountjoy wouldn't have a
chance. He shall pay this eighty thousand pounds. Mountjoy hasn't a
chance as it is; but Augustus shall pay the penalty."

Then he threw himself back on the bed, and Mr. Merton begged him to
spare himself the trouble of the letter for the present. But in a few
minutes he was again on his elbow and took some farther medicine. "I'm a
great ass," he said, "to help Augustus in playing his game. If I were to
go off at once he would be the happiest fellow left alive. But come, let
us begin." Then he dictated the letter as follows:

"DEAR MR. GREY,--I have been thinking much of what passed between us the
other day. Augustus seems to be in a great hurry as to paying the
creditors, and I do not see why he should not be gratified, as the money
may now be forthcoming. I presume that the sales, which will be
completed before Christmas, will nearly enable us to stop their mouths.
I can understand that Mountjoy should be induced to join with me and
Augustus, so that in disposing of so large a sum of money the authority
of all may be given, both of myself and of the heir, and also of him who
a short time since was supposed to be the heir. I think that you may
possibly find Mountjoy's address by applying to Augustus, who is always
clever in such matters.

"But you will have to be certain that you obtain all the bonds. If you
can get Tyrrwhit to help you you will be able to be sure of doing so.
The matter to him is one of vital importance, as his sum is so much the
largest. Of course he will open his mouth very wide; but when he finds
that he can get his principal and nothing more, I think that he will
help you. I am afraid that I must ask you to put yourself in
correspondence with Augustus. That he is an insolent scoundrel I will
admit; but we cannot very well complete this affair without him. I fancy
that he now feels it to be his interest to get it all done before I die,
as the men will be clamorous with their bonds as soon as the breath is
out of my body.--

"Yours sincerely, JOHN SCARBOROUGH."

"That will do," he said, when the letter was finished. But when Mr.
Merton turned to leave the room Mr. Scarborough detained him. "Upon the
whole, I am not dissatisfied with my life," he said.

"I don't know that you have occasion," rejoined Mr. Merton. In this he
absolutely lied, for, according to his thinking, there was very much in
the affairs of Mr. Scarborough's life which ought to have i