don. And I
beg pardon for being late, but never sleeping a wink all night for fear
about this money, I am late this morning, I humbly confess. When I got
to the Bank, the doors were shut. Our clock's correct; that I know.
My belief, sir, is, the clerks at Mortimer and Pennycuick's put on the
time."--"Oh! we must have this inquired into."

Anthony dramatized the farcical scene which he imagined between himself
and Mr. Sequin, the head clerk at Boyne's, with immense relish; and
terminated it by establishing his reputation for honesty higher than
ever at the Bank, after which violent exercise of his fancy, the old
man sank into a dulness during several days. The farmer slept at his
lodgings for one night, and talked of money, and of selling his farm;
and half hinted that it would be a brotherly proceeding on Anthony's
part to buy it, and hold it, so as to keep it in the family. The
farmer's deep belief in the existence of his hoards always did Anthony
peculiar mischief. Anthony grew conscious of a giddiness, and all the
next day he was scarcely fit for his work. But the day following that he
was calm and attentive. Two bags of gold were placed in his hands, and
he walked with caution down the steps of the Bank, turned the corner,
and went straight on to the West, never once hesitating, or casting a
thought behind upon Mortimer and Pennycuick's. He had not, in truth, one
that was loose to be cast. All his thoughts were boiling in his head,
obfuscating him with a prodigious steam, through which he beheld the
city surging, and the streets curving like lines in water, and the
people mixing and passing into and out of one another in an astonishing
manner--no face distinguishable; the whole thick multitude appearing to
be stirred like glue in a gallipot. The only distinct thought which he
had sprang from a fear that the dishonest ruffians would try to steal
his gold, and he hugged it, and groaned to see that villany was abroad.
Marvellous, too, that the clocks on the churches, all the way along
the Westward thoroughfare, stuck at the hour when Banks are closed
to business! It was some time, or a pretence at some time, before the
minute-hands surmounted that difficulty. Having done so, they rushed
ahead to the ensuing hour with the mad precipitation of pantomimic
machinery. The sight of them presently standing on the hour, like a
sentinel presenting arms, was startling--laughable. Anthony could not
have flipped with his fingers f