A LOAN ON BRICKBATS. 29 



another fair client of prepossessing appearance, and 

 manners most irresistible. Nellie Holmes was a well- 

 known character, who by her condescending behaviour 

 not only gathered riches together, but contrived to 

 raise herself from obscurity to the Peerage, and 

 became in Eotten Eow for many seasons the observed 

 of all gentleman observers. Like other fair, frail 

 ones, she died in poverty ; and her experience of this 

 life was probably much the same as that of most of 

 her compeers, one of utter barrenness in the effort 

 and result — 



' To beguile many, and be beguiled by one.' 



At all events, if rumour be believed, one of these 

 fair creatures was in the clays of her affluence a 

 fortunate acquisition to the gallant money-lender's 

 list of clients. For she left in his hands the sum of 

 £10,000 for safe keeping at the usual rate of interest, 

 10 per cent., which undoubtedly would be well taken 

 care of till w T anted, and made to bring forth increase 

 in the interval. 



Moving in all grades of society, Mr. Padwick never 

 seemed out of his sphere. In the company of either 

 sex he was always welcome, for he was irresistibly 

 suasive and plausible. He was witty and clever, 

 although, no doubt, he often found himself with 

 others who knew more than himself. He was, how- 

 ever, impatient under defeat, and accustomed to deal 

 with the suspicious, became suspicious himself. I do 



