210 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



" 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 un- 

 reasonable 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 discre- 

 tion, 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 without 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 un- 

 executed deeds is not enforced. As to Mr. Longbottom, 

 with his chef d'&uvre, leave him to his fate ; he will, how- 

 ever, 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 quite 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 hero, "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 

 lawyers say. I will write to him this evening." And 

 so he did, to the following purport : 



"LIMMER'S HOTEL, BOND STREET, June tth, 1804. 

 " MR. GRIMES, I want to borrow 2000 on my bond, 

 for which I will pay the legal interest, and make an 

 insurance on my life, if you think it necessary, for the 



