I know him well--he is a thin skinned fool, and will be apt to bolt, if you follow my advice.
"Yours as you deserve it, "R D." Now, it is necessary to say here, that amidst all this pretence of open villainy, there ran an undercurrent of cunning that might escape the observation of most men.

In truth, old Deaker was not only a knave, but a most unscrupulous oppressor at heart, especially when he happened to get a man in his power from whom he wished to extort a favor, or on whom he wished to inflict an injury.

In the present instance he felt perfectly conscious of his power over the heartless profligate, to whom he wrote such a characteristic letter, and the result shows that he neither miscalculated the feeble principles of his correspondent, nor the consequences of his own influence over him.

By due return of post he received a reply, of which the following is a copy:-- "Old Deaker--You have me fast, and you know it--so I suppose must is the word; now I'll tell you what I want, you old villain; I want two thousand pounds, and if M'Clutchy is to get the agency, I must have the money--so there is my must as well as yours.

In the meantime I have written to Hickman on the same subject, want of money, I mean--what the consequences may be, I know not, but I fancy I can guess them.
"Yours, "Cumber.".