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CHAPTER XVI.

BROUGHT TO BOOK.

"I'm going to be married on Thursday, Scriven," said Captain Willis to his principal the next morning, "and Miss Tarrant wishes me to go into her affairs, and explain to her exactly how she stands."

666 'The cry is still they come !"" the financier answered gaily. "You are not the first who has come on that business to-day."

"Indeed! Has she called?"

"No; but a gentleman who appears to take a deep interest in her has."

"The Reverend Mr. Somers ?" sneered Willis.

"No; a certain Walter Brierley."

"Confound his insolence! Why, that's the fellow that-that

"Did big brother, and inquired your intentions ? The same. He told me all about it. Rather awkward, wasn't it? He takes great interest in you, too." "But what authority"

"Exactly. That was my first question. 'What authority have you, Mr. Brierley,' I said, 'from Miss Tarrant, or her future husband, to make these inquiries?' He sat down in that chair, sir, and he talked without a pause for one hour and ten minutes! The upshot— leaving out his personal adventures, which would make a sensation novel-is that he was at one time partner with Probyn in that Wharf, and precious nearly ruined him. Upon this, and the fact of his having brought you together (as he says), he founds a claim to constitute himself your guardian angel. He has come over from America on purpose. He says he knows all about Probyn's affairs, and he expects to win your eternal gratitude for his disinterested services."

"He had better keep out of my way. Well, what did you say?"

"I suggested that the guardian angel is an institution which is not without a certain usefulness, but that in matters of business we look for powers of attorney, procurations, and some such mundane authority, before we allow such seraphic visitants to put their wings into other people's pies. So he has gone off to Miss Tarrant for leave to make a mess of her affairs, as he did of Probyn's."

"The deuce he has!"

"He left for that purpose not half an hour ago, and promised to return without delay."

"This is too absurd!"

"Of course; but in your place, I think I should not quarrel with him."

"And why, pray?"

"My dear fellow, one can hold one's own with clever knaves, but a blockhead is always dangerous."

"I have nothing to fear from Mr. Brierley," said Willis in his loftiest manner; "and as it is quite certain that Miss Tarrant will not depute him to take my place, let me ask, when can you go over her affairs with me?"

"Well, to tell truth, I am not ready to give an account of my stewardship-at least, not such a formal one as you have a right to expect. How was I to know you were going to be married so soon? There are a lot of things outstanding. That Wharf, for example; the purchase-money is assessed but not paid, and there is a dispute about some mortgages. If there are to be settlements, I tell you plainly that it can't be done in the time."

"There are to be no settlements," said Willis drily.

"Good! I congratulate you. You really do manage her splendidly. Well, I can give you a rough statement— say on Friday."

"I think it fair, Scriven, to tell you that when I am married I intend to take these things into my own hands."

66 Not you ! You don't know how. There are some good pickings to be got out of such an estate, and I may

just as well have them as anyone else. You owe me that

much."

"Our contract is in writing. I shall keep my part of it. You have my notes for twenty thousand pounds, on which you have advanced me, from time to time, about eight thousand.”

"Eight thousand three hundred and fifty," said Scriven, referring to that curious diary of his. "Considering the risk, the terms were easy. If I had not arranged with your creditors and given you a few hundreds to live upon, you would have been interviewing a Commissioner in Bankruptcy instead of making love to Miss Tarrant. You owe me a good deal more than that money, Willis, and I shall think it confoundedly unfriendly if you take the business out of my office. Why, that idea of mine that you should pretend to come here and work— ha! ha! ha! the idea of you working at anything !—was the making of you. See how open and careless I was! You might have come and taken lessons in accounts, examined my books, got an insight into investments, and made yourself competent to do what you now propose. I shouldn't have objected.” And Mr. Wingate Scriven threw himself back in his chair, ran his thumbs into the armholes of his waistcoat, and beamed upon his visitor.

"We will see about this on Friday."

"Let it drop, my dear fellow-let it drop," said Scriven. "Leave well alone, By the bye, what does

the lady's brother say about this suddenly arranged marriage?"

"I have not consulted him."

"Suppose he were to suggest a settlement?"

"I should tell him to mind his own business."

"Does he know Walter Brierley?"

"Pshaw! That!" (snapping his fingers) "for Walter Brierley. You can tell him when he comes back, if he does come, that I forbid, and will resent, any further impertinent interference in my affairs. The fellow is an ass."

"That's just it," Scriven cried, "that's the worst of it! If there be one wild animal more than another which I distrust and fear, it is the human ass. I would sooner have a lion in my path. The only way to deal with them is to hang out an unlimited supply of thistles. Let me advise-thistles for

They are cheap enough.

Mr. Brierley. Sit down and write him an invitation for your wedding. Ask him to dine with you at your club ; say you're so glad he has come back, and so on. I would even go so far as to thank him for the kind interest he takes in Miss Tarrant's affairs."

"Nonsense! I dislike the man particularly. He is of no use, and can do harm.”

"Well, have it your own way. Only, mind: I have a presentiment that he will cause trouble. He has the devil's own memory.”

"His sister is to be invited to our wedding, and I

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