THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



' I am,' replied Frank ; and, as he spoke, a deep flush came 

 over his face, at the same time that he stifled a sigh, and 

 avoided catching the eye of his friend Goodall. 



' Very well, sir ; now what is the sum you are in want 

 of?' 



' Two thousand pounds.' 



' Oh, sir,' quoth Mr. Sharpe, ' 'tis hardly worth while 

 going to parchment for such a sum as that; suppose we say 

 live ? ' 



'No,' replied Frank Raby ; 'I only want £2000 at 

 present.' 



' And the security ? ' 



' A post-obit.' 



Mr. Sharpe first squeezed together his lips, hard enough to 

 have cracked a hazel-nut, and then, pouting them out on a 

 level with the end of his nose, looked exceedingly wise — ' Post- 

 obit ! Difficult to get money on post-obit — that is to say, on 

 fair and easy terms ; would not annuity be better ? ' 



' No,' returned Frank, ' annuity won't do ; I have only an 

 allowance from my father.' 



' Well, sir, then we'll say no more on that subject. You 

 propose a bonus on the death of your father ? ' 



' Yes, or my uncle.' 



' Oh ! you have an uncle ? ' 



' I have ; and as he has never been married, and is nearly as 

 old as my father, I have reason to believe I shall inherit his 

 property.' 



' Ah, sir,' said Mr. Sharpe, with a sigh, ' two or three 

 young gentlemen I have had to deal with, have believed the 

 same thing of their uncles, but found their mistake when they 

 died. Old uncles are ticklish fellows to deal with; if you 

 please, we will confine ourselves to your father, whose estates 

 I know are entailed on you. Have you ever borrowed money 

 before ? ' 



' Never ; unless it was a hundred or so, from a friend, which I 

 repaid.' 



' Good, sir ; and what do you expect to be the bonus upon tlie 

 sum you propose to raise ? ' 



' Let us hear what you have to say, Mr. Sharpe.' 



'Why, let me see,' said Mr. Sharpe (placing his hand 

 over his eyes, and resting his elbow on the table) :—' your 



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