(JUTTING ON. 21 



be pulled somehow. I leave that to you but it must 

 be, Stevens, so you need not stare so." 



" Do you see anything in my face to lead you to 

 think rne a rascal," said Stevens, jumping from his 

 chair with a look and action that would have intimi- 

 dated one less accustomed to such scenes than his 

 present visiter, who did not alter a muscle of his 

 countenance. 



" No, master Stevens, nor a fool either," said 

 Jaques, with the most perfect coolness ; " so just sit 

 down quietly, and hear what I have got to say ; 

 you'll find it for your good." 



"Well, then, I will," said Stevens; "but don't 

 propose any hocussing to me again, or perhaps " 



" You'll do it," interrupting him, said Jaques, 

 smiling. " Now the thing is just this : all the world 

 are hocussing each other, that is, all the world that 

 have sense to do it ; and those that have not, try at 

 it. Your governor is a pretty good hand at it in 

 some ways ; but the world, in others, has been too 

 many for him ; he began the game a little too late, 

 that's all." 



" More's the pity, then," said Stevens ; " I wish he 

 had made money a little sooner, and beat them at 

 their own game." 



" Quite right," said Jaques ; " but you and I must 

 look at things as they stand at present : now I dare 

 say you have a great regard for Mr. Manderville, have 

 you not." 



"Why, yes, I have," said Stevens, "and ought 

 to." 



" And I suppose," said Jaques, " you have just as 

 much regard, or perhaps, a little bit more, for your- 

 self, eh, master?" 



c 3 



