Poe having produced those papers, his chief calculated the amount of

two thousand pounds stock at the rate of the day; and asked Captain

Osborne whether he would take the sum in a cheque upon the bankers, or

whether he should direct the latter to purchase stock to that amount.

"One of the late Mrs. Osborne's trustees is out of town," he said

indifferently, "but my client wishes to meet your wishes, and have done

with the business as quick as possible."

"Give me a cheque, sir," said the Captain very surlily. "Damn the

shillings and halfpence, sir," he added, as the lawyer was making out

the amount of the draft; and, flattering himself that by this stroke of

magnanimity he had put the old quiz to the blush, he stalked out of the

office with the paper in his pocket.

"That chap will be in gaol in two years," Mr. Higgs said to Mr. Poe.

"Won't O. come round, sir, don't you think?"

"Won't the monument come round," Mr. Higgs replied.

"He's going it pretty fast," said the clerk. "He's only married a

week, and I saw him and some other military chaps handing Mrs.

Highflyer to her carriage after the play." And then another case was

called, and Mr. George Osborne thenceforth dismissed from these worthy

gentlemen's memory.

The draft was upon our friends Hulker and Bullock of Lombard Street, to

whose house, still thinking he was doing business, George bent his way,

and from whom he received his money. Frederick Bullock, Esq., whose

yellow face was over a ledger, at which sate a demure clerk, happened

to be in the banking-room when George entered. His yellow face turned

to a more deadly colour when he saw the Captain, and he slunk back

guiltily into the inmost parlour. George was too busy gloating over

the money (for he had never had such a sum before), to mark the

countenance or flight of the cadaverous suitor of his sister.

Fred Bullock told old Osborne of his son's appearance and conduct. "He

came in as bold as brass," said Frederick. "He has drawn out every

shilling. How long will a few hundred pounds last such a chap as

that?" Osborne swore with a great oath that he little cared when or how

soon he spent it. Fred dined every day in Russell Square now. But

altogether, George was highly pleased with his day's business. All his

own baggage and outfit was put into a state of speedy preparation, and

he paid Amelia's purchases with cheques on his agents, and with the

splendour of a lord.




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