“If you mean to insinuate by that,” replied Grasper, in a quick voice, “that I am likely to be in your situation in a few years, I must beg leave to say that I consider your remarks as little better than an insult.  It’s enough, let me tell you, for you to owe me and not pay me, without coming into my store to insult me.  If you have nothing better to say, I see no use in our talking any longer.”  And Grasper made a motion to turn from his debtor.  But the case of Layton was too urgent to let him act as his indignant feelings prompted.

“I meant no offence, I assure you, Mr. Grasper,” he said, earnestly,—­“I only urged one among many reasons that I could urge, why you should spare a man in my situation.”

“While I have as many to urge why I shall not spare you,” was angrily retorted.  “Your account is sued out, and must take its course, unless you can pay it, or give the required security under the law.”

“Won’t you take my notes at three, six, nine, and twelve months, for the whole amount I owe you?  I am very confident that I can pay you in that time; if not, you may take any steps you please, and I will not say a single word.”

“Yes, if you will give me a good endorser.”

Layton sighed, and stood silent for some time.

“Will that suit you?” said Grasper.

“I am afraid not.  I have never asked for an endorser in my life, and do not know any one who would be willing to go on my paper.”

“Well, just as you like.  I shall not give up the certainty of a present legal process, for bits of paper with your name on them, you may depend upon it.”

The poor debtor sighed again, and more heavily than before.

“If you go on with your suit against me, Mr. Grasper, you will entirely break me up,” said he, anxiously.

“That’s your look-out, not mine.  I want nothing but justice—­what the law gives to every man.  You have property enough to pay my claim; the law will adjudge it to me, and I will take it.  Have you any right to complain?”

“Others will have, if I have not.  If you seize upon my goods, and force a sale of them for one-fourth of what they are worth, you injure the interests of my other creditors.  They have rights, as well as yourself.”

“Let them look after them, then, as I am looking after mine.  It is as much as I can do to see to my own interests.  But it’s no use for you to talk.  If you can pay the money or give security, well—­if I not, things will have to take their course.”

“On this you are resolved?”

“I am.”

“Even with the certainty of entirely breaking me up?”

“That, I have before told you, is your own look-out, not mine.”

“All I have to say, then, is,” remarked Layton, as he turned away, “that I sincerely hope you may, never be placed in my situation; or, if so unfortunate, that you may have a more humane man to deal with than I have.”