I candidly confess I am in a bit of a hole.

That bill business is now before the courts and when it comes on for trial, it will cause a horrible scandal and people have condemned me beforehand.

I only wish I had never mixed myself up in it." "Suppose I help you out of the difficulty!" "In that case you may dictate your own conditions and I will consent to them beforehand." "There is only one way to save you.

Henrietta must say that the bill is not forged, but is really signed by her and she must then pay and cancel it, then every foundation of a charge against you vanishes." "A sublime idea," cried Mr.John springing from his seat.

"And now let me hear your conditions." "My only condition is, complete satisfaction to be made to the children of your second sister." "What! surrender a whole third of the property to them without any deduction ?" "We will accept nothing less." "What must I do first then ?" "First you must pay the baroness forty thousand florins." "Forty thousand florins! Why ?" "In order that she may meet the bill as soon as she has acknowledged her signature." "Well, and what next ?" "You must sign deeds whereby you undertake to surrender to the children of your late sister the estates of Zoldhalom and Oroekvar bequeathed to them by your father." "Why, they are the best paying properties of all." "Then pay them the value of the estates in cash." "That would seriously inconvenience me." "Then make over your houses in Vienna and Pest." "I cannot find it in my heart to part with them." "Then propose some other expedient." "Very well, I will.