“You put it rather strong, youngster.  I didn’t agree to pay till the scheme was carried out.  But we’ve done better than we ’xpected, and, to take you out of danger, I offered to pay part down.  In a business as ticklish as stocks, you don’t expect a man to come down with the ready without a consideration?”

“You know you could never have kept the run of the market, if it hadn’t been for me; and the ten per cent. is no more than a fair share.  This isn’t a matter of dollars altogether, though dollars are useful, but of information, activity, brains.”

“Well, remember, young man, I offer you now twelve thousand.  If anything happens, don’t squawk nor play baby.”

“Why, you’re not going to fail?”

“No,—­not if the world don’t tip over.”

“And you’re going on with your operations?”

“Yes,—­till the wind shifts.  It’s due east yet.”

“Well, I think the ship that carries you is safe enough for me.  Make me the notes, and let the operations go on another week.”

With an increased respect for his agent, when he found that he could neither humbug nor frighten him, Bullion filled out and signed the notes.  Next they reviewed the stock-market, and decided upon the course to be pursued.  Bullion then fell into a profound meditation, and did not speak for five minutes, though the busy eyebrow showed that his mind was not lost in vacancy.  At last he started up, saying,—­

“I must go.  But, Fletcher, any reason why you particularly wanted to pay Sandford that thousand, to-day?”

Fletcher turned pale, and his heart rose in his mouth.

“No,—­no reason,—­that is—­he wanted it—­I—­I was willing to oblige”—­

“No matter about reasons,” said Bullion, with a quiet air.  “I never tread on people’s corns.  Only when it’s wanted let me know.  You see he went by the board.  He begged me to save him.  How could I?  I’ve done enough for other people.  Must take care of number one, now.  Kerbstone, he begs, too.  I shan’t help him.”

Fletcher felt relieved; at the same time he determined without delay to make a new effort to get the fatal evidence of his former crime into his own possession.

“Oh,” said Bullion, as if he had forgotten something, “the wife and baby, let’s see ’em.”

Fletcher called his wife, who came in timidly, and shrank from the fierce look of the man of money.

“How d’e do, Ma’am?  Your servant, Ma’am.  Glad to see you.  But the baby?”

“Fetch the baby, lovey,” said Fletcher.

Baby was brought, smiling with as little reason as possible, and winking very hard in the light.

“Pretty dear!” said Bullion, chucking her under the chin.

“I wonder what the devil this means,” thought Fletcher.

How was his surprise increased when, after a moment, Bullion inquired,—­

“Teeth cut yet?  Some of ’em, I see.  More to come.  Want something to bite, little one?”