'Have I not told you a thousand times, and Morris too, that my cousin is
not to marry until one year has passed since my grandfather's death? It
is barely a year. But of course, at this moment, of all others, I cannot
afford to be short.'

'Very true, Captin; and we are the men to sarve you, if we could. But we
cannot. Never was such times for money; there is no seeing it. However,
we will do what we can. Things is going very bad at Malta, and that's
the truth. There's that young Catchimwhocan, we are in with him wery
deep; and now he has left the Fusiliers and got into Parliament, he
don't care this for us. If he would only pay us, you should have the
money; so help me, you should.'

'But he won't pay you,' said Ferdinand. 'What can you do?'

'Why, I have a friend,' said Mr. Levison, 'who I know has got three
hundred pound at his bankers, and he might lend it us; but we shall have
to pay for it.'

'I suppose so,' said Ferdinand. 'Well, three hundred.'

'I have not got a shilling myself,' said Mr. Levison. 'Young Touchemup
left us in the lurch yesterday for 750L., so help me, and never gave
us no notice. Now, you are a gentleman, Captin; you never pay, but you
always give us notice.'

Ferdinand could not help smiling at Mr. Levison's idea of a gentleman.

'Well, what else can you do?'

'Why, there is two hundred coming in to-morrow,' said Mr. Levison; 'I
can depend on that.'

'Well, that is five.'

'And you want fifteen hundred,' said Mr. Levison. 'Well, me and my
pardner always like to sarve you, and it is very awkward certainly for
you to want money at this moment. But if you want to buy jewels, I can
get you any credit you like, you know.'

'We will talk of that by and by,' said Ferdinand.

'Fifteen hundred pound!' ejaculated Mr. Levison. 'Well, I suppose we
must make it 700L. somehow or other, and you must take the rest in
coals.'

'Oh, by Jove, Levison, that is too bad.'

'I don't see no other way,' said Mr. Levison, rather doggedly.

'But, damn it, my good fellow, my dear Levison, what the deuce am I to
do with 800L. worth of coals?'

'Lord! My dear Captin, 800L. worth of coals is a mere nothink. With your
connection, you will get rid of them in a morning. All you have got to
do, you know, is to give your friends an order on us, and we will let
you have cash at a little discount.'

'Then you can let me have the cash now at a little discount, or even a
great; I cannot get rid of 800L. wort