ch the lawyers of those
gentlemen shook their heads, although they could not disprove any item
of it. Howel had learnt enough of law to serve his purposes, and to
teach him how far he might venture to go, in the matter of interest and
compound interest, with impunity.

Howel's friend, Mr Deep, was a lawyer by profession. He had duly taken
out his stamps, and had chambers in Lincoln's Inn, and did such business
as fell in his way amongst his sporting friends.

It was he who had been Howel's attorney in all his dealings with Sir
Samuel Spendall, Mr Simpson and others, and although his reputation was
not very good amongst his professional brethren, nothing dishonourable
had ever been proved against him.

We will now look into the chambers of this worthy in Lincoln's Inn, and
listen to a conversation that is passing between him and Howel, over
what appears to be their mid-day potation of brandy and water. Howel's
manner is excited, and his face at its darkest; Mr Deep is calm, and his
face smooth as usual.

'You see, we must have money!' says Howel, 'I, at least, must have six
thousand five hundred pounds before this month is out. I owe that to
Dancy, who, of all men in the world, I don't choose to make wait. If I
lose at the Derby, I must have twenty thousand more.'

'But the chances are you will win. Alma is pretty safe, I think.'

'Yes, if we can manage to drug Magnificent. I think I have Little Bill
in my power; he will do anything for us. But this six thousand five
hundred is the first thing to think of. I have mortgaged Spendall Lodge
almost to its value. By the way, are you quite sure that Spendall has
nothing against us? They say his mother is paying his debts, and that he
will be able to come back.'

'Positive; besides, he never knows what money he has paid, or what
receipts he has had, or what the amount of his mortgages was.'

'Simpson, again, I think he is sharper since his father's death. He was
regularly frightened when he found what a sum he owed me; and if I
hadn't got into a passion, and threatened to call him out for doubting
my honour, I believe he would have checked our bill.'

'Can't you get more money on your house in town?'

'No; I have tried Levi and Jacobs, and they won't advance any more
without better security.'

'Your mother; surely she would help you, if you were to make up a good
story.'

'No; I ran down to see her the other day, and she had taken offence
because she chose to thi