for years past at the rate of a couple of thousand a
year, and his income's at least twenty. All been increasing and piling
up ever since."

The Jew again looked piercingly at the young man; but it was plain
enough that the ability was not in him to invent this as a fiction upon
the spur of the moment.

"Well," said the interlocutor, "go on. Have you any chance?"

"Yes; of course I have," said Maudlaine.

"Father agreeable?"

"Yes!"

"Lady?"

"Well, yes--pretty well; but that's all right, I tell you."

"Meet them abroad?"

"Yes."

"Have they come back to town?"

"To England--not town."

"Humph!" ejaculated the visitor, still narrowly scanning his victim.
"And that's why you came back?"

"Of course."

"Now, look here, Maudlaine," said the Jew, fiercely, "I'm not a man to
be trifled with. I was your slave once, and you did not forget to show
it. You are mine now, and you must not be surprised at my turn, now it
has come, being brought strongly before your attention. But I'll be
frank with you: I lend money for interest. Well and good: I'd rather
wait and let you pay me that money and that interest than have to arrest
you. I don't want to get a bad name amongst your class. Now I've not
much confidence in you as to promises to pay; but I'll believe your word
of honour. Is all this true?"

"On my word of honour, yes!" said Maudlaine, angrily.

"Who is the lady, then?" The Viscount flushed deeply, bit his lips, and
was silent; for to answer this question seemed to him too great a
humiliation. "Who is the lady?" was asked again. There was no answer.
"I suppose you don't want my help, then?" said the Jew. "Just as you
like. Prove to me that this is worth my while to wait--say six or
twelve months--and I'll lend you a few hundreds to go on with. But,
there, I'm not anxious; just as you like. Shall I call up the men?"

"Confound you, no!" exclaimed the young man, angrily. "She is the
daughter of a wealthy baronet, of Lincolnshire. Now are you satisfied?"

"No," said the Jew, taking out pencil and pocket-book; "I want his
name."

"Good old family," said the Viscount, hastily. "Only child. I am
invited down there, and the baronet is quite willing. Will that do?"

"Name--name--name!" exclaimed the creditor, impatiently.

"Sir Murray Gernon. There, then!" cried the young man, furiously.

"Sir Murray Gernon," said the Jew, quietly, as he tapped his teeth with
his large gold pencil-c