The Morning herald., 1877-09-27
3, CHAPTER; Xxx. x
, THE MONEY LENDERS corsclfNcs,

az" THE MONEY LENDERS CONSCIENCE.
The barrister-who knew tie man h,
had to deal with, and how he was to b.
softened by considerate attention, and hi
vanity tickled by treating him as al
equal--commenced by offering him {
chair, and asking anxiously after hi
health. ',s' ....' '..,...
Ducroe gave him the most minute de-
tails concerning it. He had been to 8
dentist about back tooth, that had given
him the most excruciating agony. Dem
tist looked at it--pronounced itsound-
refused to draw it-and ended by stop.
| pingit.
."cost Z me 2 pound, IsirAcost ms a
His eyesight,. also, was causing him
| some uneasiness.i r. ynNTip"H -
"Had to make out q little bill the other
| day at six months date at ten in the morn
ing, and had to light the gas, sir-had to
light the gas, just ;as if y were ten at
{, His legs, too, were getting shaky-
couldn't call upon his friends on foot.
How delighted his friends would have
been, thought Noel, if they could have
dispensed with those calls which he so
pertinaciously made, f. %4 ,o|. .,,, w., ',,] ,.,
At last, his. chapter Of miseries was ex-
hausted; and, clearing his throat, he CON-
menced. 8yt "'dn' -, J" Mb'iM 81,
"Well, sir, how about those bills 1 have
Of yoursY I'm ,,deMlshly in want Of
money! Let me see; the first was for
five shundred--the second for seven hun
dred-ahd the last two hundred and
fifty" ,l blna>.u' .u.,..,i J uA4os".,
.~Come Monsieur Ducroe!" said
Noel, laughing a forced laugh; "a jokes y
good thing in the right placer
"But I'm not joking.' said the tsurer.
"Well, it looks very like it. Why it's
only ten days ago, that I wrote to tell you
I could't meet them, asking, at the same
time, to have renewal" .',1 ."
NJ got your letter, sir got your letter;
but l thought that, in the way of business,
no answer was considered negative"
"A gesture Of impatience escaped the
young man. ~, n.l
ado as, you like; I've already told you
I can't meet your demandsp' J,. ! '
"Well, some people have no conscience!
Do you know that I've renewed these bills
four times already-four times, sir2 Why,
I wouldn't have done it for my own
mother, si1-not for my own motherr'
~ dare say not" said the barrister,
dryly; .'but. you see, your mother would
never have paid the interest I have-she
would have been too sharp for that, con
sidering that you are her son~ a' f. :.
\, Monsieur Ducroe was much hurt.
. He couldn't bear the word 'interest".
TO be named; so it was in a tone that
bore in it more of sorrow than anger, that
he replied, "Have l ever complainedY- =
have ever said word in reproach2 The
only remark have to make is, that you
knowI've soft heart, and you play up
on it accordingly" ,,nr 5''r. Ipr,.L .L.0u.I i
,"What's the use Of repeating thing
over and over ag'ain?" said Noel, still more
impatently than before. "1've told you
that, at the present moment, I'm hard up;
in fact, there's only just enough ready
money. left to keep me going"
"Im sorry to hear it, for your sake"
said the money-lender; "because you'll
force me to place the whole business in the
hands Of my solicitors" irlEqi5 4aIt .
& "And what will you gain by thatf Come,
my dear sir, let us play our cards on the
table. Do you wish to fill the pockets of
your solicitorsi hardly think SO. When
you have put me to great expense, will
that put a farthing in your pocket You
can't put distress in, because the house,
and all the furniture, belong to Madame
Gerdy." a ID a.-t 4 'a. s,.,
u know IT; and, svsnif You were sold
up, they wouldn't cover my expenses"
$50 you intend to thrust me into debt
or's prisonY A bad speculation, that! Ny
social position would be lost; in fact, I'd
be ruined man, and where would be your
gain2" ,...,..,..,...,.......
ala, ha, hal" laughed the worthy
"What nonsense you're
talking! Old birds can't be caught with
chah! Why, if you thought were cap
able Of shutting you up-and you know
| wouldn't, because I've got such soft
heart-my money would be there; yes, sir,
therein that very drawer as rests under |
your elboww
And the old man, still laughing, pointed
10 where Noel's arm rested.
"You are entirely in;theswrong. Had I |
he money owe you, it would be in your
lands this moment. I can't ask my
mother, you see." "'-"
A sardonic, annoying sort of laugh, pc
,uliar to Monsieur Ducros, interrupted
Noels expostulation. ~ - 'N v. "''
"Oh, know all about that! You've
enough from your mother al
'eady; and if the poor old lady 10 about to
Kick the bucket-I've heard she's been
,ery ill-well, sir, wouldn't advance a
iver upon the goods she leaves behind
ler." Dt j" '.a !'''
The young barrister's face crimsoned
With anger; his eyes flashed, and it was as
much as he could do to restrain himself
rom the immense satisfaction Of giving
he old gentleman black eye.