s your own. If you would exchange berths with me, it
would oblige me very much."

"I should be very happy to accommodate you," replied the fast young man,
"but for particular reasons I desire to occupy the berth I have
engaged."

"My room is just as good as the one you have taken," added Mr. Solomons.

"Very true; but I like the locality of mine better than yours."

It was evident that Mr. Dunkswell had a decided opinion of his own in
this matter; and my kind friend was too much of a gentleman to say
anything more about the exchange. He engaged the berth; but there was
still a hope that an arrangement might be made with the person who had
taken the upper berth in Mr. Solomons' state-room. Just then it occurred
to me, as I saw the clerk writing the receipt for me, that my money was
where I could not get at it in a public place; but it was only a short
distance to the hotel, and I ran over to my room, and put the greater
part of my funds in my wallet. The passage money was paid, and with a
lively emotion of pleasure at the prospect which the ticket opened to
me, I put it into my pocket.

Mr. Solomons then went with me to a banker's, for I had taken his
advice, and resolved to procure a letter of credit on a London banker.
My friend was very much surprised, and I think he was a little
suspicious, when I told him I had over a thousand dollars in my pocket.
The banker gave me a letter of credit for two hundred pounds, and I
deposited a thousand dollars with him, as security. On my return I was
to settle with him for whatever sums I had drawn, and he was to pay me
back the balance, with four per cent. interest. Mr. Solomons was
particular to have it understood by the banker in London that the money
would be drawn by a young man sixteen years of age, and I left my
signature to be forwarded to him.

My business was all done, and I parted with Mr. Solomons, to meet him
again the next day on board the steamer. In the evening, I went up to
Madison Place, and staid till nine o'clock.

"Who do you suppose has been here this afternoon?" asked Kate of me, as
I was taking my leave.

"Not Tom Thornton?" I replied, inquiringly.

"No; the gentleman we saw on the steamboat--your friend; he was with you
to-day."

"Mr. Solomons?"

"Yes; he told me what a lot of money you had, and wanted to know if you
had come honestly by it."

"Well, what did you tell him?" I asked, anxiously.

"I told him the money was rightfully your own.