to be the case.

6. I have left the bill for 6. But if Pitman is only a dishonest
eighthundred pounds in man, the presence of this bill
Uncle Joseph's pocket. may lead him to keep the whole
thing dark and throw the body
into the New Cut.

7. Yes, but if Pitman is 7. Yes, but if I am right about
dishonest and finds the Uncle Masterman, I can blackmail
bill, he will know who Michael.
Joseph is, and he may
blackmail me.

8. But I can't blackmail Michael 8. Worse luck!
(which is, besides, a very
dangerous thing to do)
until I find out.

9. The leather business will soon 9. But the leather business is a
want money for current sinking ship.
expenses, and I have none
to give.

10. Yes, but it's all the ship I 10. A fact.
have.

11. John will soon want money, 11.
and I have none to give.

12. And the venal doctor will 12.
want money down.

13. And if Pitman is dishonest 13.
and don't send me to gaol,
he will want a fortune.

"O, this seems to be a very one-sided business," exclaimed Morris.
"There's not so much in this method as I was led to think." He crumpled
the paper up and threw it down; and then, the next moment, picked it up
again and ran it over. "It seems it's on the financial point that my
position is weakest," he reflected. "Is there positively no way of
raising the wind? In a vast city like this, and surrounded by all the
resources of civilisation, it seems not to be conceived! Let us have no
more precipitation. Is there nothing I can sell? My collection of
signet----" But at the thought of scattering these loved treasures the
blood leaped into Morris's cheek. "I would rather die!" he exclaimed,
and, cramming his hat upon his head, strode forth into the streets.

"I _must_ raise funds," he thought. "My uncle being dead, the money in
the bank is mine, or would be mine but for the cursed injustice that has
pursued me ever since I was an orphan in a commercial academy. I know
what any other man would do; any other man in Christendom would forge;
although I don't know why I call it forging, either, when Joseph's dead,
and the funds are my own. When I think of that, when I think that my
uncle i