In short, I want you to assist me with a few hundreds." The proctor, after a pause, replied, "You place me in circumstances of great difficulty, sir; I am indeed anxious to oblige you, but I know not whether I can do so with honor, without violating my good faith to another party." "I don't understand you," said Turbot.
"Then I shall explain it," replied Purcel; "the sum I can command is one of four hundred, which is at this moment virtually lent upon excellent security, at an interest of eight per cent.

The loan is certainly not legally completed, but morally and in point of honor it is.

Now, if I lend this money to you, sir, I must break my word and verbal agreement to the party in question." "Very well, sir," replied the rector, who, notwithstanding the love he bore his "little luxuries," was scrupulously honorable in all money transactions, "don't attempt to break word, or to violate good faith with any man; and least of all, on my account.

I presume I shall be able to raise the money somewhere else." Purcel, who had uniformly found the doctor a sharp, but correct man in matters,of business, and who knew besides the severe pressure under which he labored at the moment, was not exactly prepared to hear from him the expression of a principle so high-minded.

He paused again for some time, during which he reasoned with himself somewhat to the following effect:--"I did not expect this from the worthy doctor, but I did, that he would at once have advised me to break the agreement I mentioned and lend himself the money.