s nearly covered with papers; and from an easy-chair,
supported by air cushions, half rose to welcome them Mr. Bond Sharpe. He
was a man not many years the senior of Captain Armine and his friend; of
elegant appearance, pale, pensive, and prepossessing. Deep thought was
impressed upon his clear and protruding brow, and the expression of
his grey sunken eyes, which were delicately arched, was singularly
searching. His figure was slight but compact. His dress was plain, but
a model in its fashion. He was habited entirely in black, and his only
ornament were his studs, which were turquoise and of great size: but
there never were such boots, so brilliant and so small!

He welcomed Lord Catchimwhocan in a voice scarcely above a whisper, and
received Captain Armine in a manner alike graceful and dignified.

'My dear Sharpe,' said his lordship, 'I am going to introduce to you
my most particular friend, and an old brother officer. This is Captain
Armine, the only son of Sir Ratcliffe, and the heir of Armine Castle.
He is going to be married very soon to his cousin, Miss Grandison, the
greatest heiress in England.'

'Hush, hush,' said Ferdinand, shrinking under this false representation,
and Mr. Sharpe with considerate delicacy endeavoured to check his
lordship.

'Well, never mind, I will say nothing about that,' continued Lord
Catchimwhocan. 'The long and the short of it is this, that my friend
Armine is hard up, and we must carry on the war till we get into winter
quarters. You are just the man for him, and by Jove, my dear Sharpe,
if you wish sensibly to oblige me, who I am sure am one of your warmest
friends, you will do everything for Armine that human energy can
possibly effect.'

'What is the present difficulty that you have?' enquired Mr. Sharpe of
our hero, in a calm whisper.

'Why, the present difficulty that he has,' said Lord Catchimwhocan, 'is
that he wants 1,500L.'

'I suppose you have raised money, Captain Armine?' said Mr. Sharpe.

'In every way,' said Captain Armine.

'Of course,' said Mr. Sharpe, 'at your time of life one naturally does.
And I suppose you are bothered for this 1,500L.'

'I am threatened with immediate arrest, and arrest in execution.'

'Who is the party?'

'Why, I fear an unmanageable one, even by you. It is a house at Malta.'

'Mr. Bolus, I suppose?'

'Exactly.'

'I thought so.'

'Well, what can be done?' said Lord Catchimwhocan.

'Oh! there is no difficulty,' said Mr. Sh