"You would not refuse to talk about a gentleman's affairs, hey? Isn't that about the ticket?"

"It would be quite a different case, Mr. Bristowe."

"I believe you, my boy. Well, come with me to my lodgings, and we'll go into this matter. I know where

Mr. Wilton is at this moment."

The usurer followed him, some slight hesitation still discernible in his manner; but when, an hour afterwards, he took leave of Bristowe, his manner had undergone a marked change.

"Whatever can he be up to now?" he muttered, as he contemplated with satisfaction two bank-notes of ten pounds each, before consigning them to his pocket-book. "I believe he's right when he said that this Mr. Alexander Gerald Wilton wouldn't be able to meet the bill. But if so, what should make him buy it of me? And I'm to follow the matter sharp up, too, and he'll pay me for doing it. There ain't no quarrel between 'em, so far as I can learn. Mr. Wilton seems to be a quiet sort of gent, that offends no one. It's too deep for me, that's cer tain. But there is no reason why I should find it out. I'll ask no questions."

It doesn't concern me. Meanwhile Bristowe himself was radiant with triumph. "I've got him now," he said to himself. "I didn't think I should, but I've got him. He'll have to pay pretty sharply for his insolence at last. I'd gladly have risked forty pounds, let alone twenty, for the pleasure of serving him out."

CHAPTER XXI.

THE FINAL SCHOOLS.

NOTHER fortnight and the schools began. Wilton was in high health and spirits. The change to Endicot and the charm of Janet's society had freshened him up wonderfully. Mr. Ingram's experienced eye, as it rested upon him when he went to him to obtain the necessary documents before putting down his name on the proctor's list, expressed satisfaction--as that of a trainer might, when his thoroughbred was led out in prime condition to run the Derby.

"All right, Wilton, I see.

Mens sana in corpore sano," he said. "Now, take my advice, and work very little for a day or two before the examination, and not at all on the day immediately before it. Take a walk and a bathe, and read an amusing book. Above all, go to bed early, and get a sound night's rest. The same on the days of the examination. Go home as soon as the work of the day is over, take a chop and a cup of tea, and then go straight

to bed. You are rather excitable, I can see; and nothing takes it out of a man like excitement."

Wilton thanked him, and promised to follow his advice. He was just setting out to give in his name to the senior proctor, when a note was put into his hand. Wilton looked at it, and was half inclined to put it aside until his return. It was directed in the handwriting of some evidently illiterate person, and the envelope was smudged and dirty. It was probably a bill or circular. He opened it, however, and skimmed hurriedly through it. The contents were as follows:

" SIR,

"You be a gentleman, and I don't like to see a gentleman put upon. There's them as means you no good, and has brought up again the story about your having hurt me last winter in Grinder's Lane.

"I don't half believe as 'twas you, though I was told 'twas. Anyways, you have paid like a gentleman, and I won't see you wronged, if I can help it. I advises you to take your degree as quick as possible, for there is some, not in Oxford now, but as is coming up, means to prevent it if they can.

"Your sincere well-wisher,
"JAMES HUTCHINS."

Wilton went back into his rooms and sat down to think. He was afraid there was no doubt that the man spoke truly enough, when he said there were those that wished him no good. He had before suspected that there was some one behind, egging on Joel Sparks to act

as he had done. To be sure, he could think of no one to whom he had done any injury, or whom his getting into trouble could benefit. Still such appeared to be the Hutchins's warning was not to be neglected.

case.

He was still pondering over the matter, when his scout entered with a letter which had arrived by the midday post. This document was a contrast to Mr. Hutchins's missive. It was directed in a clear bold hand. The envelope was of thick white paper, and was sealed with wax, as well as wafered. The handwriting of the epistle was also unknown to Wilton. He had now worked himself into a state of feverish excitement, and tore open the cover of the letter the moment Larkins had left the room. Its contents were not such as to restore his equanimity.

"SIR,

"158, Goswell Street, London, E. C.,

"May 9th, 1844.

"I beg to call your attention to your bill for £25 8s. 4d., due on the 25th of April last, which I hold, having given value for the same. I was in Oxford on the day named, and called at your rooms to present it for payment, but I was informed that you were absent on a visit at Hadbroke Vicarage. I did not think it necessary to follow you there, or trouble you with a letter at the time. But I shall be again in Oxford (which I visit periodically) in the course of a few days, and will take the opportunity of calling upon you for the settlement of the bill. I have the honour to be, sir,

“Your obedient servant,

"ANDREW CALDICOTT."

"Whatever does the fellow mean?" burst out Wilton. "My bill for five and twenty pounds! He holds it, this man-what's his name? Caldicott-having given value for it. Why, I never borrowed a halfpenny of him, nor of anybody else either. No money was ever sent. The man must be dreaming, or else this is an attempt to swindle me. I'll soon put a stop to this!"

He seized a pen, and dashed off a hasty answer to Mr. Caldicott, informing him that he presumed he had written to him under a mistake. He had never borrowed any money either of him or any one else; and he was not going to pay any.

Having committed this letter to the post, he straightway took himself off to the proctor's rooms, as the afternoon was now wearing away. But upon the way he reflected that all these various annoyances made it desirable for him to take Mr. Hutchins's advice, and get through the business of his examination as fast as possible. The initial of his surname would make him one of the last on the list for examination, if not the last of all. But he reminded himself that his first name, Alexander, if he chose to employ it, would place him at the head of the list for examination, instead of the tail. It had been his father's name as well as his own, and he had in consequence always been called Gerald, to prevent confusion in the family. No difficulty was made about men entering their names after this fashion. It was, indeed, no uncommon practice. He accordingly registered himself on the proctor's list as "Alexander-Gerald-Wilton, e Coll. Sancti Cuthberti," and then returned home to his books again.

The days passed rapidly on. The fatal Monday came.

Y