THE BURIED TREASURE, 245

piety and rectitude were not likely to do him much
good, and thought it better to go straight to the
point. “TI have a great favour to ask you, my dear
father,” he said.

Phil. “What is it? I shall be glad to do any- -
thing I can.” :

Lys. “There is a young friend of mine, of an ex-
cellent family I should say, who has not managed
his affairs very prudently. I should like to help
him.”

Phil, “With your own means?”

Lys. “ Certainly; I suppose I may say that what
is yours is mine. I am sure that all that is mine is
yours.” :

Phil, “Ts your friend poor ?”

Lys. “He is poor.” —

Phil, “ Had he any property ?”

Lys. “ He had.”

Phil. “ How did he lose it? By farming, or the
taxes, or by trade ventures ?”

Lys. “No, no; by nothing of that kind.”

Phil. “ How was it, then?”

Lys. “ By his lazy ways, and a certain habit he had
of pleasing himself.”

Phil. “Well, you are certainly a candid friend.
You don’t mince matters, —a poor fellow that never
did anything that he ought, and yet is in want.
Somehow I don’t care that you have friends of this
kind,”