“Oh!” she answered, quite unabashed, without a trace of the fearful, tender pleading of the previous week’s interview—­quite as if I had been an accomplice, “I can give you excellent security.”

“That alters the case; I can lend any amount on good security.”

“Well, sir, I can get the acceptance of three friends of ample means”

“Do you mean to tell me, Miss Snape, that you will write down the names of three parties who will accept a bill for one hundred pounds for you?”

Yes, she could, and did actually write down the names of three distinguished men.  Now I knew for certain, that not one of those noblemen would have put his name to a bill on any account whatever for his dearest friend; but, in her unabashed self-confidence, she thought of passing another forgery on me.  I closed the conference by saying, “I cannot assist you;” and she retired with the air of an injured person.  In the course of a few days, I heard from Mr. Axminster, that his liability of one hundred pounds had been duly honored.

In my active and exciting life, one day extinguishes the recollection of the events of the preceding day; and, for a time, I thought no more about the fashionable forger.  I had taken it for granted that, heartily frightened, although not repenting, she had paused in her felonious pursuits.

My business one day led me to the establishment of one of the most wealthy and respectable legal firms in the city, where I am well known, and, I believe, valued; for at all times I am most politely, I may say, most cordially received.  Mutual profits create a wonderful freemasonry between those who have not any other sympathy or sentiment.  Politics, religion, morality, difference of rank, are all equalized and republicanized by the division of an account.  No sooner had I entered the sanctum, than the senior partner, Mr. Precepts, began to quiz his junior, Mr. Jones, with, “Well, Jones must never joke friend Discount anymore about usury.  Just imagine,” he continued, addressing me, “Jones has himself been discounting a bill for a lady; and a deuced pretty one too.  He sat next her at dinner in Grosvenor Square, last week.  Next day she gave him a call here, and he could not refuse her extraordinary request.  Gad, it is hardly fair for Jones to be poaching on your domains of West-End paper!”

Mr. Jones smiled quietly, as he observed, “Why, you see, she is the niece of one of our best clients; and really I was so taken by surprise, that I did not know how to refuse.”

“Pray,” said I, interrupting his excuses, “does your young lady’s name begin with S.?  Has she not a very pale face, and cold gray eye?”

The partners stared.

“Ah!  I see it is so; and can at once tell you that the bill is not worth a rush.”

“Why, you don’t mean—?”

“I mean simply that the acceptance is, I’ll lay you a wager, a forgery.”

“A forgery!”