THE THREE RAVENS. 



" She's at her long home !" said Nonsuch,, mournfully " She 

 died six months ago." 



" Poor Pincroft !" ejaculated the captain. " That's unlucky ; but 

 stay the letters were addressed to her, of course?" 



" No, they were not/' replied Nonsuch, alarmed ; " they were con- 

 veyed through a servant, without any address, lest they should fall 

 into the old lady's hands." 



" Oh Lord ! oh Lord ! that's worse still," said the captain, scratch- 

 ing his head ; and a pause of some minutes ensued. 



Intense thoughts appeared to be travelling hastily athwart the brow 

 of the captain, as leaning forward towards Nonsuch, he demanded : 

 " Has old Raven feathered his nest?" 

 " I believe so. He has plenty of money." 

 " Any settled on the daughter ?" 

 " Oh yes ! lots. Two thousand pounds," 



" Ha !" cried Trigger, significantly, " then why don't you marry 

 her ?" 



" I marry her !" cried Nonsuch with emotion ; " live in a family 

 vault ! No, no ; I should soon be a job for my father-in-law, depend 

 upon it. Why, they live upon the dead ; they're jackals hyenas " 

 " Not laughing hyenas, at all events," cried the captain ; " but 

 Nonsuch, my boy, upon second thoughts, it will be the best thing 

 you can do. You'll never be able to prove that these letters were'not 

 addressed to her ; they'll get swinging damages, and I don't think 

 thnt will be money well laid out." 



" I'll be laid out myself first," exclaimed Nonsuch, in a rage ; " I 

 would shroud it with pleasure rather than put up with that spotted 

 spinster that gawky giraffe " 



" I say, Nonsuch, do you know," said Trigger, after a pause, play- 

 ing with eighteen pence which he had got, all in sixpences, in his 

 pocket, " do yo know that I am steeped in poverty to the very lips, 

 into which a very unsatisfactory portion of provender finds its way ; 

 do you know that life is dear, and living not cheap ; and do you know 

 that money is important to me, and that I must have money ?" 



" Captain !" expostulated Nonsuch, somewhat affrighted, 



" Listen to me," interrupted the other ; and now in a voice of se- 

 crecy did the captain pour into the ear of his host a well digested 

 plan, which it is not expedient at present to disclose. 



Various were the emotions that seemed to agitate the linendraper 

 during Trigger's recital. Hope, fear, doubt, expectation, uncertainty, 

 rapture, coursed over his expressive countenance with inconceivable 

 rapidity. 



" It'll do, won't it?" inquired the Captain with a knowing wink, 

 as he concluded. 



" I think it will/' returned Nonsuch. 



" You'll go through with it without fail, 'pon honour ?" asked the 

 other. 

 I will." 



The two friends here indulged themselves in a burst of exhilirating 

 laughter, and shaking hands with enviable cordiality, separated for 

 the night. 



