"My lord," says I, laying my hand upon my busm, "only give me security, and I'm yours for ever." The old noblemin grin'd, and pattid me on the shoulder.

"Right, my lad," says he, "right--you're a nice promising youth.

Here is the best security." And he pulls out his pockit-book, returns the hundred-pun bill, and takes out one for fifty.

"Here is half to-day; to-morrow you shall have the remainder." My fingers trembled a little as I took the pretty fluttering bit of paper, about five times as big as any sum of money I had ever had in my life.

I cast my i upon the amount: it was a fifty sure enough--a bank poss-bill, made payable to Leonora Emilia Griffin, and indorsed by her.
The cat was out of the bag.