cold, and deliberately cracked his fingers one after another. When the operation was concluded, he said lightly, as taking no interest in what the Lascar had said,

That is your business, my friend; not mine. I will tell you as far as I know about this young gentleman who has served you so well. He is not coming home yet awhile, I believe-not before the end of the year, perhaps. I daresay you'll manto see him when he does come home.'

age

6

Yes, I'll manage to see him then,' said the Lascar, with a sudden quietude of manner and with a furtive look at Mr. Fewster's face-a look which said, 'You are trying to deceive me, master; let us see who is the more cunning-you or I." Then aloud, Thank you for answering my question. You say it is not your business, this hate of mine for Joshua Marvel. Yet there may be something in common between us, for I've seen you walking with the girl who worships Joshua Marvel.'

'How do you know that she worships him?' demanded Mr. Fewster, thrown off his guard, his heart beating loud and fast.

'Because I am not blind. I know that as well as I know that you have as much cause to

hate him as I have. I am like a cat; I watch and watch. You are too young, my master, to mask your face; and I have seen that in it that you wouldn't like to speak.'

'Mind what you are saying,' said Mr. Fewster, with his knuckles at his teeth; you are on dangerous ground.'

'Why should I mind?' questioned the Lascar, with a curious mixture of fierceness and humility in his voice. My tongue's my own. I have nothing to lose judge you if you have anything to gain. Mind you, I stop at nothing. I am not squeamish. You are a gentleman; I am a vagabond. I can do what you daren't. I can help you to what you want, perhaps; and you can help me.'

The cunning of the Lascar was too deep for Mr. Fewster. The Lascar saw as clearly as if he had been told that Solomon Fewster loved Ellen Taylor, and he seized instinctively upon Ellen's love for Joshua as the lever by which he was to gain power over Mr. Fewster. In the present conversation the men were not evenly matched; the Lascar had all the advantage on his side. Subtle as Mr. Fewster was, his love blinded his judgment, and his hate led him to consider that this man might be useful to him.

'I can help you, you tell me,' he said. 'How?' I am cold to the bone,' said the shivering wretch. "Treat me to some rum.'

They walked until they reached a publichouse; then Mr. Fewster gave the Lascar money. 'Go in and drink; but don't get drunk.'

'Ain't you coming in, master?'

'No,' said Mr. Fewster, with a look of contempt at the Lascar's tatters. You can buy a bottle of rum, and bring it out with you. And mind, when you come out, don't walk by my side; follow me.'

Five minutes afterwards they were walking in single file towards Mr. Fewster's place of business, where he lived. When they arrived at the door, Mr. Fewster hesitated. He wanted to talk to the Lascar, to get out of him all he knew about Ellen and Joshua; yet, looking at the Lascar, he hesitated. The man divined what was in his mind, and said,

'There is a policeman coming along on the other side of the way. Go to him and say, "Look at this man; I have occasion to speak to him on a matter of business; but he is a disreputable dog, and I want you to watch the house. Knock in an hour, and if I don't answer, or if

you

hear any

noise, force open the door." Say that to him, or something like it, and give him a pint of beer, and you will be all right.'

'Come along,' said Mr. Fewster, stung by the Lascar's quiet sneer; 'I am not frightened of you.'

'You have no need to be, master. You can use me like a dog, if you give me to eat and drink.'

'Like a dog!' echoed Mr. Fewster, with a laugh. Well, suppose I regard you in that light; may be useful.'

it

Mr. Fewster struck a light in the shop, in which there were at least a score of coffins-respectable coffins, solemnly black as coffins should be, with respectable nails to match.

'Waiting for tenants,' he remarked pleasantly to the Lascar. 'The cheap ones-common deal -are in the workshop at the back.' Mr. Fewster put the candle down upon a coffin, and looked complacently upon his wares. Handsome, are they not? This one, now, with lacquered handles and silvered plate for name, age, and virtues, what should you say to that?'

'Shouldn't care much for it,' said the Lascar, with evident repugnance. 'It would be more suit

able for such as you, master. A cheap one—a common deal-will be good enough for me, when my turn comes.'

'Quite good enough, I should say.'

'You are not going to stop here talking, are you?' inquired the Lascar, seeing that Mr. Fewster evinced no disposition to move.

'Why, don't you like it, you dog?' retorted Mr. Fewster, with a spice of his native humour. 'No, I don't; it smells of worms.'

With a pleasant laugh Mr. Fewster led the way into his sitting-room, and set light to the fire and lit a second candle.

'This is better,' said the Lascar, huddling before the fire. Ah, this is good, this warmth; it is life! Have you ever slept out in the cold, master?'

'No, you dog,' answered Mr. Fewster.

He had recovered his self-possession and much of his usual equanimity.

'I have; in the cold and wet, for two or three nights together.'

ster.

'There was the Union,' suggested Mr. Few

'I have been there often enough. Sometimes I was too late; sometimes there were too many