e either to him or you; but we are old
friends. You can not doubt that I have your interest at heart."

"No, I don't doubt that," said Lucy, hastily, and held out her
hand to him.

"Well, then," said he, "be persuaded and meet the man."

"No, I will not do that," said she. "I am not a good woman, I know; but
it is not for want of the wish. I will not play double any more." And
from that nothing he could say could move her.

The lawyer returned to his place, and when Monckton called next day he
told him he was sorry to say Mr. Braham was ill and in trouble, and the
lady couldn't meet him. She would make any reasonable sacrifice for his
convenience except that.

"And I," said Monckton, "insist upon that, and nothing else."

The lawyer endeavored to soften him, and hinted that he would advance
money himself sooner than his client should be tormented.

But Monckton was inflexible. He said, "It is about a matter that she can
not communicate to you, nor can I. However, I am obliged to you for your
information. She won't leave her stock-broker, eh? Well, then I know
where to find her;" and he took up his hat to go.

"No, pray don't do that," said Mr. Middleton, earnestly. "Let me try her
again. She has had time to sleep over it."

"Try her," said Monckton, sternly, "and if you are her friend, take
her husband's side in this one thing; it's the last time I shall
trouble her."

"I am her friend," said the lawyer. "And if you must know, I rather
wish her to meet you and get it over. Will you come here again at
five o'clock?"

"All right," said Monckton.

Monckton was struck with lawyer Middleton's manner, and went away
puzzling over it.

"What's _his_ little game, I wonder?" said he.

The lawyer went post-haste to his client's house. He found her in tears.
She handed him an open letter.

Braham was utterly ruined, and besides that had done something or other
he did not care to name; he was off to America, leaving her what money
she could find in the house and the furniture, which he advised her to
sell at once before others claimed it; in short, the man was wild with
fear, and at present thought but little of anybody but himself.

Then the lawyer set himself to comfort her as well as he could, and
renewed his request that she would give Monckton a meeting.

"Yes," said she, wearily--"it is no use trying to resist _him_; he can
come here."

The lawyer demurred to that. "No," said he, "keep your own counsel,