willing but able to help me to what I
want."

"And you thought right, Stanney, my boy," said the old gentleman
heartily; "I have a ship going to sail for India in a few weeks, and we
have not yet appointed a surgeon. You shall have that berth if it suits
you."

At this point they were interrupted by the entrance of a servant maid
with the announcement that there was a man in the lobby who wished to
see Mr Durant.

"I'll be back shortly," said the old gentleman to Stanley as he rose;
"go to the drawing-room, girls, and give Mr Hall some music. You'll
find that my Katie sings and plays very sweetly, although she won't let
me say so. Fanny joins her with a fine contralto, I believe, and
Queeker, too, he sings--a--a what is it, Queeker?--a bass or a
baritone--eh?"

Without waiting for a reply, Mr Durant left the room, and found Morley
Jones standing in the lobby, hat in hand.

The old gentleman's expression changed instantly, and he said with much
severity--

"Well, Mr Jones, what do _you_ want?"

Morley begged the favour of a private interview for a few minutes.
After a moment's hesitation, Mr Durant led him into his study.

"Another loan, I suppose?" said the old gentleman, as he lit the gas.

"I had expected to have called to pay the last loan, sir," replied Mr
Jones somewhat boldly, "but one can't force the market. I have my sloop
down here loaded with herrings, and if I chose to sell at a loss, could
pay my debt to you twice over; but surely it can scarcely be expected of
me to do that. I hear there is a rise in France just now, and mean to
run over there with them. I shall be sure to dispose of 'em to
advantage. On my return, I'll pay your loan with interest."

Morley Jones paused, and Mr Durant looked at him attentively for a few
seconds.

"Is this all you came to tell me?"

"Why, no sir, not exactly," replied Jones, a little disconcerted by the
stern manner of the old gentleman. "The sloop is not quite filled up,
she could stow a few more casks, but I have been cleaned out, and unless
I can get the loan of forty or fifty pounds--"

"Ha! I thought so. Are you aware, Mr Jones, that your character for
honesty has of late been called in question?"

"I am aware that I have got enemies," replied the fish-merchant coldly.
"If their false reports are to be believed to my disadvantage, of course
I cannot expect--"

"It is not my belief in their reports," replied Mr Durant, "that
creates suspici