ound!" muttered his lordship, "I'd pitch you out of
the window if I dared!"

"Did your lordship speak?" said the visitor, bending his head aside in
an attitude of attention.

"Speak? No! Only I've such a confounded headache this morning, I'm not
fit for business matters. Richmond last night with some friends."

"Yes; I heard so," said the visitor, softly. "Mad'moiselle Duval was of
the party, I think?"

"How the dooce did you know that?" exclaimed his lordship, uneasily.

"Oh! really I hardly know. It is one of the troubles of position, my
lord, that every one hears of your movements."

"I'll lay twenty to one that you've had some hook-beaked, unshaven dog
watching me ever since I've been back!" exclaimed his lordship,
impetuously.

"He, he, he!" laughed the Jew. "Your lordship may have a headache, but
you are really most keen and business-like this morning."

His lordship growled.

"_You_ are," he said, after a pause.

"Exactly so," said the money-lender. "And now, perhaps, your lordship
will give your attention to the matter in hand?"

"Well, I am attending!" grumbled his lordship.

"Then, perhaps, your lordship will give me a cheque on your banker for
the total of the bills, interest and expenses. Let me see," continued
the visitor, drawing a large bill-case from his pocket.

"There, keep that confounded thing out of my sight! My head aches quite
badly enough without having that thrown in my teeth. Now, look here: I
haven't fifty pounds at the banker's, and what there is I want for
present expenses."

"Then what does your lordship propose doing?"

"Nothing at all," said his lordship sulkily.

"Does your lordship wish me to ask payment of the Earl, your father?"

"If you like," said his lordship, with a grin; "but while he has this
fit of the gout on, I should not advise you to get within his reach. He
holds to the fine old idea of his Norman ancestors, that knocking a Jew
on the head was meritorious. But there! he won't pay--he can't, even if
he felt ever so disposed. Now, look here, Braham: you must stick some
more interest on, and renew the bills."

"Renew, my lord?" exclaimed the money-lender, expressing with eyebrows
and hands the greatest of surprise. "Impossible! I've renewed till I'm
as sick of it as of your broken faith."

"No, you're not; so don't be a humbug!" said the Viscount. "I'm not
very sharp, I know; but I'm keen enough to see through that. You've
milked me pr