only that time's up!"

Lord Maudlaine sank back upon his pillow, half stupefied.

"Impossible," he pondered: he had made no memorandum--he never did of
these disagreeable transactions; but it was impossible that six months
could have elapsed, and he said so.

"Six months, my lord? Why, what put it into your head that the paper
had six months to run?"

"Why, I asked you to make it six months, and you said you would try."

"Well, I did try, my clear lord. But you astonish me! Did you not read
the bills over, when you put your name to them?"

"Confound you! you know I did not!" cried the Viscount, angrily. "They
were only for three months, then?"

"That's all, my lord. But there--what does it matter? Give me a cheque
for the amount, and have done with it. There will be so much weight off
your mind."

Lord Maudlaine grinned in a manner that indicated how gladly he would
have liked to wring his tormentor's neck, but he crushed down his wrath.

"Well, what's to be done? I can't pay."

"Very sorry, my lord--but you know the result, without Sir Murray Gernon
would--"

"Hang you, be quiet!" exclaimed the other, fiercely. "He knows that I
am poor; but would you upset all, now that matters have gone so far?
You must renew again."

"But the cost to your lordship will be ruinous," expostulated the Jew.

"What do you care for that? Look here, Braham: all is going on as well
as possible--I only want time. If you clap me in a sponging-house now,
you will not get a penny, for Sir Murray's pride would never get over
it. I could never show myself here again. You must renew."

"Can't," said Braham, shaking his head--"can't, indeed. Money is more
and more valuable every day."

"So is time to me," said his lordship, grimly. "Now, look here, Braham:
is such a chance as this to be played with?"

"Thousand pities to lose it."

"Thousand pities--yes!" exclaimed the Viscount, excitedly. "Yes, I'd
give a thousand pounds sooner than be thrown off now."

"Well," said the Jew, "I don't want to be hard. On those terms--terms,
mind, that you offer yourself--I'll renew for another three months; but
mind this: I'll have the money to the day, or you know the consequences.
If the money is not paid, you will be taken, even if it is at the
church door."

"Terms!--what terms?" stammered the Viscount. "I offered no terms."

"Your lordship said that you would give a thousand pounds for three
months' reprieve," said hi