undred pounds," said Mr. Finsbury,
as that worthy appeared. "I am afraid, unless you choose to discount it
yourself, it may detain me a day or two till I can get it cashed."

Mr. Watts looked at the bill, turned it over, and dogs-eared it with his
fingers. "It will keep you a day or two?" he said, repeating the old
man's words. "You have no other money with you?"

"Some trifling change," responded Joseph. "Nothing to speak of."

"Then you can send it me; I should be pleased to trust you."

"To tell the truth," answered the old gentleman, "I am more than half
inclined to stay; I am in need of funds."

"If a loan of ten shillings would help you, it is at your service,"
responded Watts, with eagerness.

"No, I think I would rather stay," said the old man, "and get my bill
discounted."

"You shall not stay in my house," cried Mr. Watts. "This is the last
time you shall have a bed at the 'Tregonwell Arms.'"

"I insist upon remaining," replied Mr. Finsbury, with spirit; "I remain
by Act of Parliament; turn me out if you dare."

"Then pay your bill," said Mr. Watts.

"Take that," cried the old man, tossing him the negotiable bill.

"It is not legal tender," replied Mr. Watts. "You must leave my house at
once."

"You cannot appreciate the contempt I feel for you, Mr. Watts," said the
old gentleman, resigning himself to circumstances. "But you shall feel
it in one way: I refuse to pay my bill."

"I don't care for your bill," responded Mr. Watts. "What I want is your
absence."

"That you shall have!" said the old gentleman, and, taking up his
forage-cap as he spoke, he crammed it on his head. "Perhaps you are too
insolent," he added, "to inform me of the time of the next London
train?"

"It leaves in three-quarters of an hour," returned the innkeeper with
alacrity. "You can easily catch it."

Joseph's position was one of considerable weakness. On the one hand, it
would have been well to avoid the direct line of railway, since it was
there he might expect his nephews to lie in wait for his recapture; on
the other, it was highly desirable, it was even strictly needful, to get
the bill discounted ere it should be stopped. To London, therefore, he
decided to proceed on the first train; and there remained but one point
to be considered, how to pay his fare.

Joseph's nails were never clean; he ate almost entirely with his knife.
I doubt if you could say he had the manners of a gentleman; but he had
better than th