slowly during the day. If a contrast had been desired, it could not have been more strikingly presented than in the hard lineaments and gaunt figure of Archibald Graysteel, whose ablutions might have been made with vinegar. One thing, however, they had in common, and that was a perfect control over all external signs of emotion. You must plunge the harpoon very deep to reach the whale through its blubber, and strike very hard to pierce through the shell of the tortoise.

City men never waste their time in complimentary discourse.

"Friend Graysteel," began Mr. Soaper, taking out a paper from a table drawer before him, "thee knows this warrant?"

It represented one, to the value of eighteen thousand pounds, which was duly described.

Archibald Graysteel quietly replied in the affirmative.

"Thee knows this, likewise?" continued Mr. Soaper, producing a second paper, similar in all respects to the first.

"I do," was the answer.

"Hast thee, then, two consignments of ore in the London Docks that tally in every particular: size, weight, and amount ?"

Archibald Graysteel held, he said, so much ore just then that, unless he referred to his books, he could not immediately answer the question. "But if thee transfers thy warrants on the same day" (Mr. Soaper, as we have seen, had no great reverence for grammar; few of the "Friends" have), "thee cans'n't well forget that!"

The senior member of the firm admitted that his memory was not likely to prove so treacherous.

"We made thee an advance on this," pursued the calm Jabez, pinning down No. 1 on his open ledger with the forefinger of his large right hand, "on the seventh day, sixth month, present year; at the same date Sparrowhawk and Co., of Bilge-row, made thee a like advance, or peradventure one thirty-sixth per cent. higher than us, on this ;" and he nailed down No. 2 with the other forefinger. "Which of these two," he added, after a pause, "is genuine?"

Archibald Graysteel felt that the placid Quaker had him in a fix. He looked hard in his face, but nothing shone there save the glistening oil. He felt at a loss to which of the precious documents to give the preference, and remained silent.

"Thee hast done business for a long time with our house, Friend Graysteel," resumed Mr. Soaper, "and much-very much-of thy paper has passed through our hands. I thought thee au honest man, but now I find thee art a rogue!"

The expression on Archibald Graysteel's countenance seemed to ask if this discovery were altogether new? He shrugged his shoulders. "The firm," he said, in a very low but distinct voice, "wanted money."

Mr. Soaper coughed slightly.

"Thee hast not yet answered my question."

"Neither of them are the thing, then, if you will have it."

Mr. Soaper removed the two warrants from the ledger, and locked

them up in the drawer.

"Thee hast a large distillery, and a heavy plant?"

Archibald Graysteel nodded.

Mr. Soaper turned over the leaves of his ledger.

"Fourth day, third month, spelter-warrant, eleven thousand; eighth, third, wool, seven thousand; twenty-fifth, third, tallow, thirty-three thousand ;- and so he went on for five minutes; "total, one hundred and sixty-three thousand, eighteen and six. What hast thee to meet all this?" "Well," replied Archibald Graysteel, "it will all come right, if you only give us time. We've had pretty nearly the same amount outstanding with your house before."

"Ah!" returned Mr. Soaper, "but then all the warrants were genuine."

It was Archibald Graysteel's turn to cough now: the cough expressed doubt.

"However that may be," said the general merchant, not caring as it seemed to dwell on the subject too long-" however that may be, I suppose you don't intend to be hard upon us! That wouldn't do you any good. Besides, as I said just now, we shall come round if we're not pressed."

"What other engagements hast thee, besides these?" asked the Quaker, pointing to the ledger, and, through it, to the drawer. "Not another, so help"

Mr. Soaper raised his substantial hands.

"Thee must not swear," he said. "What are the monthly returns of the distillery ?"

"Month before last, eight thousand-last month, nine five hundredkeeps rising

"And the plant and the duties ?"

"All paid, every shilling; here are the vouchers!"

From a large pocket-book Archibald Graysteel took a packet of papers. "I thought," he said, "you'd want to see the receipts, so I brought them."

Mr. Soaper carefully examined every receipt; he was apparently satisfied with the scrutiny, for, when he had made an end, he observed, in the same level tone that had marked his speech throughout:

"Thee wast right to suppose, Friend Graysteel, that we meant not to be over hard with thee. Thee must give us a promissory note at sixty days for one hundred and sixty-three thousand, eighteen and six-with interest thee shall then have all thy warrants back again."

If I said that Archibald Graysteel was able invariably to repress all outward tokens of satisfaction, I was wrong. On this occasion a gleam of pleasure danced in his eyes.

66

I may depend on this?" he said.

"Thee may," still ungrammatically replied the Quaker. Archibald Graysteel little heeded Priscian's mishap.

"You shall have the note in ten minutes," he rejoined.

This was the way in which "Graysteel and Handyside" got out of that difficulty.

And in this way a good deal of "business" appears to be transacted in London.

CHAPTER III.

SOMETHING LIKE A BREAK-UP.

WITH their credit thus bolstered up for a time, "Graysteel and Handyside resumed operations. But kind and forbearing as Mr. Soaper had been to them-(I say nothing about justice to the commercial world, in which the spurious warrants obtained a fresh and brisk circulation)— they still felt that it would require more than ordinary efforts to meet the extremely heavy liability which they had incurred towards Godsend, Stiff, and Soaper. One hundred and sixty-three thousand pounds -(without the odd shillings and pence, which would be my difficulty)— is a large sum to provide within the space of a couple of months, when good bills and bona fide checks are required in payment; and the immediate consideration of the Firm was given to the question. For a few weeks, while in the first flush of renewed confidence, both Archibald Graysteel and William Handyside were sanguine of success. It was known how largely they had dealt with the Quaker house; it was supposed that they still continued to do so; and from this supposition they derived considerable support. But the real source of supply being stopped, for Godsend, Stiff, and Soaper would take no more warrants, their paper got looked at, which is not a very favourable symptom in the prosecution of commercial affairs-and it began to make itself tolerably plain to the Firm that a crisis was at hand. Unable to prevent the blow, they, therefore, laboured to avert its heaviest consequences.

Their object now was to raise as much cash as they could, and make themselves scarce before a fiat of bankruptcy was issued. It was agreed upon, for this purpose, that Archibald Graysteel should take the distillery in hand, while William Handyside made the necessary preparations for getting off. That they must fly together and keep together was the main feature of their plan, for they were necessary to each other. William Handyside was a very tolerable linguist, and accustomed to continental life; Archibald Graysteel knew no language save his own, and had never been abroad, but, as he was to raise the cash, his partner's movements must, perforce, be regulated by those of the purse-bearer. Whatever course might ultimately be decided on, it was also settled that, in the first instance, their departure should remain a secret even to their own families.

How they sped may be inferred from the following dialogue which took place in the course of Saturday, the 16th of June last past, in the private room at the offices of the firm in Blasing-lane :

"The Lord be praised," Archibald Graysteel began

"Never mind that now," interrupted William Handyside,—“ we're on business. What have you done?"

"As much as could be done under the circumstances. You know that the Excise duty was our great pressure; until that was paid not a gallon of spirits could be removed. Well, I had to look out for a party who would advance upon a certain quantity to be delivered on a certain day."

"Yes, I know that. Didn't Muffle and Twigg offer to take it?" "They did, provided it was ready to-day. After leaving you yester

day afternoon, I went to the Inland Revenue,' offered to pay 70007.; they agreed to removal on those terms. At nine this morning MacSpigot came to the distillery for the money; gave him a check, crossed, on Moonshine and Glitter; he waited to see the stuff removed; at twelve Muffle and Twigg sent down; got their check, uncrossed, for 3000l.; cashed it an hour afterwards; and now we are safe till Monday morning, as our check can't be presented to-day. That's what I've done, and devilish glad I am,-that's to say, the Lord be praised-it's all over! I hope you've made it all right!"

"Here,” said William Handyside, taking out his pocket-book, "here are six Foreign-office passports; no description of persons, nothing but the names, different of course in each. Three of them are for you, and that money we'll divide, for fear of accidents. The Baron Osy leaves at two to-morrow morning for Antwerp; I've taken tickets and secured berths. We must be on board to-night,-not later than ten."

"What have you done down there?"

"Sent word to say we're engaged till late-not to sit up for either of us."

"And the Chambers?"

"Oh, the clerks will be there on Monday. We'll take the key of this place with us. Meantime we may as well be seen as usual. I've ordered dinner at six at the 'Peacock,' in Lime-street. Ask for No. 7, first floor, if you arrive first.”

The worthy partners now separated and betook themselves to their customary avocations. Mercantile engagements were entered into, prospective arrangements made, and manifold dealings transacted, with an air so assured as to awaken fresh confidence in many who had begun to doubt.

"Graysteel and Handyside did a good deal in wools to-day," said Ruddle, of Turnbull Alley.

"Yes," replied Honeyball, of Cateating-street; "sold them three hundred bales myself."

"They're all right, now, I fancy," observed Ruddle.

"Safe as the Bank," returned Honeyball; "I have heard Graysteel say that Soaper, of Godsend, Stiffs,' had offered him 6d. a cwt. above prices at two to-day if he'd sell all his tallows and cocoas, but that he declined, as he expects a rise on Monday of one-and-six, at least!”

"Wish I'd known that sooner!" said Ruddle; "wouldn't have parted with mine! Graysteel has good information!"

"Good as any man on 'Change," replied Honeyball.

On that Saturday afternoon, in fact, there was quite a general desire in the City to do business with "Graysteel and Handyside," and more than one broad-shouldered broker went back to his turbot and mutton at Hoxton, discontented at not having had a deal with the enterprising firm; more than one comely "waiter upon Providence" inwardly rejoiced, during the sermon next day, at having parted with his "Great Screw Nuggets" or his "West Cockatoos" at something like a premium of eleven-sixteenths to "Graysteel and Handyside." On the following Monday morning, however, the discontented began to chuckle and the smug to look sour, when a whisper got abroad that something had gone wrong with "the enterprising firm;" and when, about noon, it became

generally known that both the partners had disappeared, leaving behind them an immense amount of liabilities, variously estimated at from three hundred thousand pounds to a million, every feeling was absorbed in one universal consternation. Addle-street, Old Jewry, Garlick-hill, Great St. Thomas Apostle, all the lanes and rows, all the holes and corners in the City of London, poured forth their loud-voiced denunciations. Rums, which had opened lively, straightway became dull, Saltpetre was neglected, Currants were inanimate, Tallow ceased to be firm, Brown Jamaicas were depressed, Native Ceylons went down, Great Screw Nuggets, West Cockatoos, East Elizabeths, Royal South Unities, Chimborazos, Purgatorios, every mining share that existed, and every mining share that did not exist-the latter by far the most numerous-went down deep as the shafts that led-or did not lead-to their treasured secrets; nothing looked up,-nothing could look up in the midst of such general confusion. To say that the market was merely "flat," was to utter a phrase without meaning; the simile of a pancake no longer had any significance: if you wanted the real type of collapse, it was only to be found in the moral prostration of the house of Godsend, Stiff, and Soaper, the great bill-brokers in St. Withold's.

Monday, the 18th of June, was the anniversary of Waterloo, the day of the great failure at Sebastopol. Napoleon's discomfiture, the bitter disappointment of the Allies, were terrible things in their way, but they never came near the state of mind of Mr. Jabez Soaper, when he found that the promissory note of "Graysteel and Handyside" for one hundred and sixty-three thousand pounds eighteen and sixpence—with interest was on that day dishonoured. The curse might have fallen on Israel before, but he, like Shylock, never felt it till then. Even the sensations of Mr. MacSpigot, the exciseman, cauterised as his inner man had long been, and impersonal as he was in the affair, even his sensations, I say, were scarcely pleasant, when the check on "Moonshine and Glitter" was returned to the "Inland Revenue" ominously labelled with "No effects!"

But what are the groans of money-bags when weighed in the balance against the tearful silence of an anxious household; what the billbroker's baffled expectations against the doubt, the dread, the agony of a fond and trusting wife, of a loving though neglected daughter; what the duped speculator's vexation against the shame, the sorrow of honest, noble minds! Let us regret, as our natures permit, the shock which commercial credit receives when great defalcations occur; but let no comparison be made between the loss of pelf and the abasement of all we hold dear. The next time Mr. Honeyball sells his wool he may find a safer customer; the next time Mr. Jabez Soaper "accommodates" a doubtful party he may possibly be more successful; but when the heads of families are branded as fraudulent bankrupts, what remedy can minister to the grief of those whose belief in their father's integrity, whose reverence for their parents' name, is destroyed for ever!