“Ah! you are just like all gamblers:  never consider yourself in the light of bringing yourself into trouble.  Take my advice, young man; there is a step in a gambler’s life to which it is dangerous to descend, and if you have brought your father and uncle into trouble, blame neither me nor my money,” returned Graspum.

“You do not say that there is forgery connected with this affair, do you?” inquired Marston, grasping Lorenzo by the arm.

“I wish it were otherwise, uncle,” replied Lorenzo, leaning forward upon the table and covering his face with his hands.  “It was my folly, and the flattery of this man, which have driven me to it,” he continued.

“Oh! cursed inconsistency:  and you have now fallen back upon the last resource, to save a name that, once gone, cannot reinstate itself.  Tell me, Marco Graspum; are you not implicated in this affair?  Your name stands full of dark implications; are you not following up one of those avenues through which you make so many victims?  What is the amount?” returned Marston.

“You will know that to-morrow.  He has given paper in your name to an uncertain extent.  You should have known this before.  Your nephew has been leading a reckless gambler’s life-spending whatsoever money came into his possession, and at length giving bills purporting to be drawn by you and his father.  You must now honour them, or dishonour him.  You see, I am straightforward in business:  all my transactions are conducted with promptness; but I must have what is due to me.  I have a purpose in all my transactions, and I pursue them to the end.  You know the purport of this document, Marston; save yourself trouble, and do not allow me to call too often.”  Thus saying, he took his hat and left the room.

Uncle,” said Lorenzo, as soon as Graspum had left, “I have been led into difficulty.  First led away by fashionable associations, into the allurements with which our city is filled, from small vices I have been hurried onward, step by step, deeper and deeper, until now I have arrived at the dark abyss.  Those who have watched me through each sin, been my supposed friends, and hurried me onwards to this sad climax, have proved my worst enemies.  I have but just learned the great virtue of human nature,—­mistrust him who would make pleasure of vice.  I have ruined my father, and have involved you by the very act which you have committed for my relief to-night.  In my vain struggle to relieve myself from the odium which must attach to my transactions, I have only added to your sorrows.  I cannot ask you to forgive me, nor can I disclose all my errors-they are manifold.”

“This is an unexpected blow-one which I was not prepared to meet.  I am ready to save your honour, but there is something beyond this which the voice of rumour will soon spread.  You know our society, and the strange manner in which it countenances certain things, yet shuts out those who fall by them.  But what is to be done?  Although we may discharge the obligation with Graspum, it does not follow that he retains the stigma in his own breast.  Tell me, Lorenzo, what is the amount?” inquired Marston, anxiously.