THE LIFE OP A SPORTSMAN 



' I doubt it,' said his Lordship. ' However, ii" you do not 

 succeed in the city, you know where to come ; at all events, do 

 not conclude the bargain witliout informing me of the nature 



of it; 



At the appointed liour Goodall met our hero at Limmer's, 

 and getting into a dirty hackney coach, proceeded to the city 

 on an ec^ually dirty business, and in due time arrived at the 

 residence of Mr. Sharpe, a member of the honourable pro- 

 fession of money-scriveners. On their names being announced 

 to him, they were shown into the dining-room, where Mr. 

 Sharpe almost immediately made his appearance, that part of 

 his premises, as he himself said, being better fitted than the 

 ' office ' for gentlemen who came to him ' on matters of a 

 delicate nature.' He was a middle-aged man, respectable in 

 his appearance, possessing a quick eye, and altogether a very 

 intelligent countenance. We will once more have recourse to 

 the dialoo-ical form, in describing; this interview. 



' Good morning to ye, gentlemen,' said Mr. Sharpe (on making 

 his appearance) : ' Mr. Goodall, I believe.' 



' The same, sir,' replied Goodall. 



' Then I presume,' continued Mr. Sharpe, ' this gentleman 

 (bowing to our hero) is Mr. Raby. I beg, gentlemen, you will 

 be seated.' 



' My friend Mr. Raby, sir,' said Goodall, ' is in want of some 

 temporary assistance, and having been recommended to you by 

 my friend Mr. Thornton, I have reason to believe you will 

 render it to him upon fair and honourable terms.' 



' Sir,' said Mr. Sharpe, smirking a bow, ' you pay me a 

 compliment : but this I may say of myself, that, from my very 

 extensive pecuniary connections in this great town, I have the 

 means of rendering gentlemen accommodation to an extent not 

 within the reach of — I think I may say — any other man. But 

 pray, sir, let me ask you, is your friend a son of Mr. Raby, of 

 Am stead Abbey ? ' 



' He is,' replied Goodall. 



' Then,' resumed Mr. Sharpe, ' there will be no difficulty in 

 this case. I foreclosed a mortgage last year, on a property 

 adjoining the Amstead estate, and, having been some weeks in 

 tlie neighbourhood, know all about Mr. Raby. I think, sir,' 

 continued he, addressing himself to our hero, ' you are now the 

 only son.' 



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