“I am not used to it.”

“And you never will be, Mr Brammel, if you don’t begin to practise.  Come, I am sure you don’t wish me to see your father to-day.  I am certain you are not anxious to part with your patrimony.  You are too sensible a man.  Pray let us have no delay, Mr Allcraft.  See what we want.  Mr Brammel will go to London to-morrow.  We must take time by the forelock.  Let us meet these heavy payments, and then we can think, and breathe, and talk.  Till then it is idle to wrangle, and to lose one’s temper.  Very well:  then there’s little more, I imagine, to be done at present.”

Augustus Theodore still opposed his nomination, like an irritable child; but a fly kicking against a stone wall, was as likely to move it, as Brammel to break down the resolution of such a personage as Mr Bellamy.  After an hour’s insane remonstrance, he gave in to his own alarm, rather than to the persuasion of his partner.  He was fearfully in debt; his only hope of getting out of it rested in the speedy decease of his unfortunate parent, whom he had not seen for months, and who, he had reason to believe, had vowed to make him pay with his whole fortune for any calamity that might happen to the bank through his misconduct or extravagance.  It was not from the lips of Mr Bellamy that he heard this threat for the first time.  What he should do, if it were carried out, heaven only knows.  He consented to go to London on this disgusting mission, and he could have bitten his tongue out for speaking his acquiescence, so enraged was he with himself, and all the world, at his defeat.  He did not affect to conceal his anger; and yet, strange to say, it was not visible to Mr Bellamy.  On the contrary, he thanked Mr Brammel for the cheerful and excellent spirit in which he had met his partners’ wishes, and expressed himself delighted at the opportunity which now presented itself for introducing their young friend to life.  Then, turning to Michael Allcraft, he begged him to prepare their deputation for his work immediately, and to place no obstacle in the way of his departure.  Then he moved the adjournment of the meeting until the return of Mr Brammel; and then he finished by inviting all his partners to dine with him at the hall that day, and to join him in drinking success and happiness to their young adventurer.  The invitation was accepted; and Mr. Bellamy’s grand carriage drew up immediately with splash and clatter to the door.

CHAPTER III.

A CHAPTER OF LOANS.

Augustus Brammel hated his partners with all his heart and soul.  He had never been very fond of them, but the result of this interview gave an activity and a form to feelings which it required only sufficient occasion to bring into play.  Notwithstanding the polite tone which Mr Bellamy had cunningly adopted in placing his mission before him, even he, the ignorant and obtuse Brammel, could not fail to see that he