.580 City Sketches. 



" Induced to lend you a helping hand to bring you through." 



*' My dear Sir," said Walton, " you know that the late failure of 

 Benfield's house, so sudden, so unexpected on my part, is the sole 

 cause of my stoppage. But for that, I need not to have called my 

 creditors together." 



" Well, well," said Shark appeased, " what is done cannot be 

 undone. But this composition or seven- and-sixpence in the pound 

 it is very small, Mr. Walton, very small. I am a great sufferer 

 the largest creditor a hard case." 



'* I am very sorry for it," said Walton, " believe me, I am." 



Mr. Shark wooed silence for some time, indeed for so long a 

 period that one might almost have thought that he had succeeded in 

 making up the match between them. He, at length, delivered 

 himself of these words: 



" Come, look up your friends : they, I um sure, do not wish to see 

 you reduced to commence the world again under such unfavourable 

 circumstances. They will lend you money, I know they will." 



" I hope to get a little money together, certainly," said Walton, 

 " otherwise I shall be unable to resume business. I have given up 

 every thing to my creditors every farthing." 



'* Nay, I didn't mean that," cried Shark abruptly, " I mean that, 

 unless you can offer more, I will never sign your composition," 



Walton was now well nigh reduced to despair. 



" Good Heavens! Mr. Shark, do not say so.'' 



" Old Blunt will do something for you." 



" It is quite hopeless to expect it.'' 



" Recollect,'' rejoined Shark, " you have treated me most shame- 

 fully." 



Walton did strive to recal that fact to memory, but could not 

 succeed. 



" Of the other creditors I say nothing," continued Shark, " every 

 thing is fair there quite fair but as for me poor soft easy fool ." 



" My dear Mr. Shark." 



" Walton," cried the other, suddenly grasping him by the hand, 

 " pay me in full, and I'll sign your composition. I know you can : 

 ha ! I know you can ," and he winked his eye. 



Walton burst into a laugh of the hysterical species. 



" Yes, yes, all right, -1 understand,'' said Shark, "pay me the 

 twelve-and-sixpence in the pound privately, and I'll prevail upon the 

 other creditors to take sa--and-sixpence. I can lell them you ought 

 to have something; to go on with." 



Good God ! Sir, what do you mean ? I cannot do it." 



" Eighteen shillings, then : say eighteen. 

 " I would die first," < 



exclaimed Walton passionately ; " what right 

 have you to think me so base a villain ? " 



'* Very well, Sir, very well, Sir," fumed Shark with ill-suppressed 

 rage, "I'll be the ruin of you ; that's all I'll I'll you don't know 

 me, Mr. Walton." 



" Oh yes, I do, now"' said Walton bitterly. 



" No insolence, Sir, you are a villain, Sir," and, hurrying into 

 the warehouse, Shark encountered Mr. Blunt. 



