ENTRAPPED BY A FAIR BORROWER. 27 



needless to say that in the hands of this special 

 pleader and excellent judge of character, the astute 

 money-lender had no chance. He was not proof 

 against the influence of such charming naivete and 

 eloquence, and the favour sought was no sooner named 

 than granted. Eight thousand pounds on mortgage 

 was business to him, and, on an emergency of this 

 kind, the rate of interest was a matter of no conse- 

 quence to the lady. A cheque for the amount was 

 drawn on the spur of the moment, and the bargain 

 concluded— save the mortgage, which was to follow. 



His charming; visitor having- left him, Mr. Padwick 

 indulged in a pleasant reverie, having for its subject 

 the short and exciting interview just ended. But 

 suddenly waking to his customary sober, business-like 

 habits, he prudently and immediately sent to stop 

 payment of the cheque ; only to learn, with great 

 disgust, on the return of the messenger that it had 

 already been presented and paid. He now began to 

 see that he had been cajoled into the belief that the 

 lady had been acting in her own behalf, instead of at 

 the instigation of her husband. The upshot of the 

 affair was that he lost his money, and was very sore 

 about it. Ever after, in referring to the subject, he 

 declared ' he always felt a pain in his stomach when 

 it crossed his mind.' This anecdote, as most others I 

 relate, I give without embellishment or mutilation on 

 the authority of Mr. Padwick himself; and in its truth 

 I thoroughly believe, as I do in that of the following 



