152 TRUE RICHES; OR,

 

‘Tt is your interest to say this. I can credit as
much of it as I please.”’

‘¢ You are insulting! You presume on the power
a knowledge of my affairs has given you. I will look
for a more honourable agent the next time.”

‘Honourable! Ha! ha!’ The visitor laughed in
a low, guttural voice.

‘Martin! I will not hear this from any living
man.”

The face of Jasper was almost purple with sup-
pressed anger.

“Go!” he added. ‘Leave my house instantly.
I defy you!”

Scarcely had these words passed his lips, ere Martin
glided from the drawing-room, and in afew moments
the street-door shut with a heavy, reverberating jar.

The merchant stood, like one bewildered, for a few
moments, and then, as he sank into a chair, uttered
alow groan. For a long time he remained as mo-
tionless as if sleeping.

CHAPTER XVI.

On leaving the house of Jasper, Martin—who,
instead of having been in the city only a few hours,
arrived two days previously—took his way to the
office of Grind, the lawyer. He had seen this indi-
vidual already several times, and now called on
him again by appointment. The two men, on meet-
ing, exchanged looks of intelligence.