How quaintly modest!
"By the by, talking of Marston, what has become of him? His affairs
seem to have died out in the general levity which the number of such
cases occasion. But I tell you what it is, Graspum," (he whispers,
accompanying the word with an insinuating look), "report implicates
you in that affair."
"Me?-Me?-Me, Sir? God bless you! why, you really startle me. My
honour is above the world's scandal. Ah! if you only knew what I've
done for that man, Marston;--that cussed nephew of his came within a
feather of effecting my ruin. And there he lies, stubborn as a door-
plate, sweating out his obstinacy in gaol. Lord bless your soul, I'm
not to blame, you know!-I have done a world of things for him; but
he won't be advised."
"His creditors think he has more money, and money being the upshot
of all his troubles, interposes the point of difficulty in the
present instance. I tell them he has no more money, but--I know not
why--they doubt the fact the more, and refuse to release him, on the
ground of my purchasing their claims at some ulterior period, as I
did those two fi fas when the right of freedom was being contested
in the children. But, you see, Grabguy, I'm a man of standing; and
no money would tempt me to have anything to do with another such
case. It was by a mere quirk of law, and the friendship of so many
eminent lawyers, that I secured that fifteen hundred dollars from
M'Carstrow for the gal what disappeared so mysteriously.
Pages:
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572