THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



father, sir, you say, is tit'ty-two years old ; he may live another 

 fifty-two years. Then (removing his hands from his eyes, and 

 looking at our hero) your father, sir, is, I understand, a very 

 regular liver, entering but little into the dissipation of this 

 town ; on the contrary, I believe he almost altogether lives 

 in the country, devoting himself to hunting, agriculture, and 

 such-like health-giving pursuits. Then, what a fine, noble- 

 looking man he is ! I think, Mr. Raby, he'll hold for a long 

 tug.' 



' I hope he may,' replied Frank ; ' but tell me at once what 

 you expect for £2000 ? ' 



' Certainly not less than £5000, all circumstances con- 

 sidered.' 



' Then be it so ; when can I have the money ? " 



' In a fortnight from this day ; you shall hear from me 

 within that time, to appoint the day and hour in which the 

 money will be forthcoming. All, then, that I have to add is, 

 a request that Mr. Thornton may be an attesting witness to the 

 bond, or, indeed, any other gentleman who is known to both 

 parties, merely to identify the person of Mr. Rab}^ who is, of 

 course, a stranger to me.' 



' Why, to be sure, we are both strangers to you, Mr. Sharpe,' 

 said Goodall ; 'but there can be no objection to call upon 

 my friend Thornton, on whom I can depend for not talking 

 about this affair, which, of course, Mr. Raby wishes to be kept 

 a secret.' 



' Oh, sir,' said Mr. Sharpe, with a small smile, ' we never talk 

 of these matters ; we should be cutting our own throats.' And 

 so exeunt omnes. 



' Well, Raby,' said Lord Dauntley to our hero, the first 

 time they met after this visit to Mr. Sharpe, ' how did you 

 get on with the money-lender ? What are you to give for 

 your £2000 ? ' 



' What do you think ? ' was the reply. 



' I am no judge of such things,' answered his Lordship, 'as 

 my father died when I was two years old. All I know is, you 

 must mind what you are at ; for a friend of mine was nicely 

 humbugged by one of these advertising money-lenders. He 

 was absolutely obliged to take twelve dozen gross of cotton 

 stockings, and a lot of vulgar plate, whicli he did not want, for 

 more than half tlie sum promised him.' 



211 



