was the case, I not only left my will with him, but, in the course of the next week, I let him into the secret of all my pecuniary affairs; Grace’s bequest to Rupert, alone, excepted.  John Wallingford encouraged this confidence, telling me that plunging at once, heart and hand, into the midst of business, was the most certain mode of forgetting my causes of sorrow.  Plunge into anything with my whole heart, I could not, then, though I endeavoured to lose my cares in business.

One of my first acts, in the way of affairs, was to look after the note I had given to Rupert.  It had been made payable at the bank where I kept my deposits, and I went thither to inquire if it had been left for collection.  The following conversation passed between myself and the cashier on this occasion: 

“Good morning, Mr.——­,” I said, saluting the gentleman; “I have come to inquire if a note for $20,000, made by me in favour of Rupert Hardinge, Esquire, at ten days, has been left for collection.  If so, I am ready to pay it now.”

The cashier gave me a business smile,—­one that spoke favourably of my standing as a moneyed man,—­before he answered the question.  This smile was, also, a sign that money was plenty.

“Not absolutely for collection, Captain Wallingford, as nothing would give us more pleasure than to renew it, if you would just go through the form of obtaining a city endorser.”

“Mr. Hardinge has then left it for collection,” I observed, pained, in spite of all that had passed, at Rupert’s giving this conclusive evidence of the inherent meanness of his character.

“Not exactly for collection, sir,” was the cashier’s answer, “for, wishing to anticipate the money, by a few days, and being under the necessity of leaving town, we discounted it for him.”

“Anticipate!—­you have discounted the note, sir!”

“With the greatest pleasure, knowing it to be good.  Mr. Hardinge remarked that you had not found it convenient to draw for so large a sum on the spot, and had given this note at short date; and the consideration having been received in full, he was desirous of being put in cash, at once.  We did not hesitate, of course.”

“Consideration received in full!” escaped me, spite of a determination to be cool; but, luckily, the appearance of another person on business prevented the words, or the manner, from being noted.  “Well, Mr. Cashier, I will draw a check, and take up the note, now.”

More smiles followed.  The check was given; the note was cancelled and handed to me, and I left the bank with a balance in my favour of rather more than $10,000, instead of the $30,000 odd, which I had held previously to entering it.  It is true, I was heir at law to all Grace’s assets, which Mr. Hardinge had handed over to me, the morning I left Clawbonny, duly assigned and transferred.  These last consisted of stocks, and of bonds and mortgages, drawing interest, being on good farms in our own county.