s visitor, coolly.

"Pooh! absurd! You are mad," said the Viscount.

"Oh! I beg pardon," said Braham, rising. "I understood you to say so.
As your lordship pleases."

"Sit down there, for Heaven's sake, Braham. What are you thinking
about?"

"Nothing--nothing, my lord; but pray excuse me. Time is nothing to you;
it is everything to me."

"By George! what a position," muttered the unhappy Viscount. "There,
look here: you'd let me off for another three months, on the same terms
as the last--eh?"

The Jew shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. His hand was already
upon the door, he opened it, and had passed out, when, half mad with the
prospect before him, the Viscount shrieked:

"Braham! Here! Stop! I agree;" and the Jew slowly re-entered the
room.

"No, my lord, I think it would be better not," he said. "You are
already too deeply in debt. My conscience would not allow me to make
such terms."

"I can't stand it--that cant, Braham," said the Viscount, hoarsely.
"You have the paper and stamps in your pocket--there are pens and ink;
draw them up, and let me sign the bills, and let's have an end to it.
I'm not very clever, but it is plain enough to me how you pull the
string, for you have me fast enough. Make much of it, though, for I
would not consent but that you have me in a corner."

"Now, don't be hard," grinned Braham, as, without a minute's loss of
time, he drew out the requisite slips of paper, and held them, when
ready, for the Viscount to sign. "Look at the risk I run," he added, as
he took a fresh clip of ink, and held the pen to his lordship, placing
the writing-table by the bedside, ready to his hand.

"Take them, and make much of them. You came down meaning to make a good
bargain out of me, and I hope you are satisfied?"

"Quite--thanks, my lord," laughed the Jew, as he placed the bills in his
pocket-book. "Never mind, my lord; you will settle down soon, and cease
kite-flying; but mind this: three months only, and then--no mercy!"

"Good morning," said the Viscount, shortly; and unwilling to display his
rage, he turned round in bed, and dragged the clothes over his
shoulders.

"Good morning, my lord," said the Jew, with a grin of triumph; but the
hour of success had not yet arrived for either: incubation was
proceeding apparently in the most satisfactory manner, but until Isa
Gernon's hand was his, Lord Maudlaine's prospect of getting out of debt
was small indeed.

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