GRESHAM GRASSHOPPER. 



greater velocity than he now displayed, on perceiving Argent. 

 Followed by his companion, with equal speed, they were, in a mo- 

 ment, whirling along toward Brighton with what expedition four 

 horses could convey them. 



When the astonishment caused by this abrupt flight had partially 

 ceased, each eye was bent on Argent as if for explanation, since 

 it appeared evident that to his presence alone their hasty departure 

 was attributable. 



" And is that really the graceless Wilmot Holland ?" said the 

 usurer, in fearful trepidation, as the unwelcome truth began to 

 glimmer upon him. 



" It is, it is !" was the reluctant reply of Sir Crab ; who, from the 

 usurer's unwonted terror, augured something, he knew not definitely 

 what, of horrible. 



Argent, was now convinced: and with the conviction came the 

 certainty, that when he fancied, he had lent Lord Creighton 50001., 

 he had been the prey of an expert swindler. Of this he could no 

 longer doubt ; and, for the first five minutes after the fact was ascer- 

 tained, he seemed stupified ; then he raved loudly and bitterly for ven- 

 geance. Vengeance he would have: and though all manner of 

 noxious things beset his path though mountains frowned before 

 him though oceans intervened though pestilence scattered the con- 

 tents of his phial around him. Vengeance, vengeance should lay 

 her soothing unction to his wounded spirit ! 



The hurricane subsided by degrees, and a calm succeeded, only 

 to be broken by a still more fearful display. 



" Pursued !" continued the victim, " aye, pursue him like a whirl- 

 wind, even to the world's end. Mine own will I have ; and bitterly 

 shall he rue the day when he selected me on whom to play his infa- 

 mous schemes. Five thousand pounds ! and from me ! I, who have 

 risen early, and late retired to my pallet ; who have trudged, with 

 thousands in my pocket, to the poverty-smitten abode of splendour, 

 while my feet were weary and my stomach empty, yet expended not 

 sixpence for a coach or for food ; who have passed hours, days, 

 years, in increasing vigilance, and untiring perseverance ; whose 

 days have been consumed in thought, thought the most intense ; and 

 whose very nights have been no seasons of rest for me ! I, who 

 have sacrificed a life in amassing treasure whohave enjoyed none 

 of the world's luxuries ; who have suffered every torture in the power 

 of fear to inflict ; and who have scarcely partaken of a sufficiency 

 to keep breath in this miserable carcass ! That such as I should 

 have, at last, been duped, cheated, defrauded villanously defrauded 

 is too, too much !" and the wretched old usurer sunk on a chair. 

 The next moment he started up ; his cheeks burning, his eyes the 

 seat of ungovernable fury, and every limb quivering from excess of 

 rage. He gasped for speech and again he sunk down. The struggle 

 had been too severe thesudden rupture of ablood-vessel released him 

 from the endurance of a life which, for the better part of half a cen- 

 tury, had been most wretched from its very prosperity. 



M.M. No. 96- 4 U 



