THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



But what was to be done with Mr. Thornton, whom our 

 hero could not think of thus leaving in the lurch ? Luckily 

 for both parties, he saw him at the other end of the street, 

 and told him what had passed about the pictures. 



'They attempted to do me in the same way,' said Mr. 

 Thornton,' ' and, as it was, I was obliged to take £300 worth 

 of plate which I did not want ; but they are unreasonable in 

 your case.' 



' Well,' said Frank Raby, ' I am very sorry you have 

 been brought here on a fool's errand, but I will instantly write 

 a note to Sharpe, and tell him to let matters rest till he hears 

 from me again ; and I will send it to him at Longbottom's.' 

 Mr. Thornton approved of his discretion, and here the matter 

 ended for the present. 



The next day Frank Raby called on Lord Dauntley, to 

 inform him of the result of his visit to Edward Street, and at 

 the conclusion of his story was thus addressed by his truly 

 noble friend : — 



' My dear Raby, have nothing more to do in this business. 

 As I told you before, I can furnish you with the £2000 with- 

 out the least inconvenience, and require no other security than 

 a common bond. I would advise you to get Mr. Thornton to 

 make your peace with Mr. Sharpe, by paying him his costs in 

 preparing the bond, which cannot be much, as the value of 

 stamps to unexecuted deeds is not enforced. As to Mr. Long- 

 bottom, with his chef d'ueuvre, leave him to his fate ; he will, 

 however, be aware that you are too long-headed for him. Who 

 Mr. Crow is, I know not; but General Jervis I do happen to 

 know, and am (juite sure that, so far from his being at the 

 Bedford Hotel, in this town, and able to give 700 guineas for 

 a picture, he is at this moment playing at hide-and-seek with 

 the bailiffs, and cannot command 700 shillings.' 



' My dear Dauntley,' replied our hei'o, ' you are too 

 kind ; if compelled to do so, I will accept your offer, but I 

 still have one more move. There is a rich old miller on 

 the Amstead estate, who, I have reason to believe, will lend 

 me this money, on a common bond, with an insurance on 

 my life, which I should be willing to make, by way of 

 rendering the security " undeniable," as the law3'ers say. I 

 will write to him this evening.' — And so he did, to the follow- 

 ing purport : — 



214 



