It had been let to Mr.William Belton at an increased rental,--a rental increased by nearly forty pounds per annum,--and that gentleman had already made many of his arrangements for entering upon his tenancy.

The twenty pounds had already been paid to Stovey, and the transaction was complete.

Mr.
Amedroz sat in his chair bewildered, dismayed--and, as he himself declared,--shocked, quite shocked, at the precipitancy of the young man.

It might be for the best.

He didn't know.