'Well,' replied John, wishing to be polite, and certainly to avoid giving expression to any uncomplimentary surmises upon this point, I say it's a rum go.'

'Yes, it is, Mr. Rutherford; and what makes it a still rummer go is this, that I have the power of making things very comfortable for somebody else-let us say yourself, for instance.'

'Well, you've done it,' said John, waving his hand round the apartment, in which the fragrant stuffing of the bullock's heart still mingled with the aroma of the whisky: you have made me most uncommon comfortable.'

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'Pooh! that's nothing, man,' returned the other contemptuously, 'to what I can do for you, and what I mean to do, if you only show a grain of gumption.'

Ah, that depends,' replied John, either from natural modesty or from the remembrance that the sagacious Sally had often denied to him the quality alluded to.

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To begin with, there's a five-pound note, my man, which I have been told to hand over to you by one the colour of whose money you have seen already.'

John took the note--not without some excitement-and held it up against the light of the two candles which graced the board. "The water-mark seems all right,' he said.

'Of course it's right: everything is right as the Capting does, you may take your oath: he's a gentleman, he is, every inch.'

'It seems, so indeed,' said John assentingly, after having quite satisfied himself of the genuineness of the article in question. And what am I to do for this pretty bit of flimsy?'

'Nothin',' said Dick triumphantly, and crossing his legs; 'it's yourn for good and all and no questions asked.'

"Then tell the Captin, with my love,' said John, putting the note in his pocket, 'that I shall be happy to do the same work for him on the same terms as long as he lives.'

‘Ah, well, it won't be quite that,' returned Dick; but it is very little more in the way of work, and it will be a very great deal more in the way of wage.'

'How much?' inquired the other.

'A matter of a hundred pounds.'

'That's a long figure,' observed Mr. Rutherford, blowing not only the smoke but a considerable quantity of the air of his lungs into space.

'Yes, and the money down,' continued Mr. Dartmoor: none of your promises to pay, nor bills, nor such-like, but twenty notes like that, paid into the palm of your 'and!'

Mr. Rutherford looked at his hand, as if in some doubt as to

And the work,

What is the trifling

whether it was a fit receptacle for such a sum. Mr. Dartmoor?' said he, after a long pause. service as I am expected to do for the Captin for the wage?' 'It's merely to stop your keb in a certain place, and then drive on again.'

'Then I'll take the mare out-because she's a jibber, and will do it forty times and think nothing of it,' replied John cheerfully. 'You may count on that little matter as settled.'

Now, don't be a fool, Rutherford: be serious,' argued Dick, with some irritation. It's not a joking matter, let me tell you,

nor anything like it.'

"I beg your pardin,' said honest John with gravity. I thought, from what you said about the thing being so very trifling, that it was a bit of a joke. It ain't thieving, is it?'

Hush-h!' said Dick, holding up his finger, and glancing apprehensively towards the top of the wooden partition; don't never use such words as that. Do you think I'd ask an honest man like you to do anything agin the law? I've too much regard for you, Mr. Rutherford--and for your missus.'

'I'll tell her,' said John, what you so kindly say, and likewise all about it.'

"What! You would not be such a fool as that, surely?' exclaimed Dick in unmistakable alarm. Why, that fi'-poundnote was give you in order, whatsumever happened, and whether you proved game or not, as you was to be mum about it.'

Then there was a little work to do for it, after all, Mr. Dartmoor, if it was but to hold my tongue?' observed John, with the air of a discoverer. Well, that ain't easy work for some peoplebut fortunately it is for me. I'll never say a word, I promise you,

whatever happens.'

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I know'd it, Rutherford: I know'd you were a right good fellow,' said Dick soothingly. Now, the fact is this: we wants

6

you to help us in a little bit of fun-that's the best way to put it -in a little bit of fun-with Mr. Helston.'

'Ah, indeed!' said John.

practical joke, eh?'

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What ladies and genelmen call a

'Just so, old fellow. The Capting knows Mr. Helston; is, indeed, a sort of friend of his; so, you see, it's all upon the square. You drives him o' nights to Moor Street now and then, don't you?' Yes, I drives him to Moor Street.'

And on again, after that, to Paulet Street?'

'I does.'

Between them streets, and not much out of your way lies, Grain Place, don't it-a very quiet sort of spot?