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CAUGHT AT LAST; OR, THE FELON'S…

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,aglince at the merchant, still apparently abaorlitsa in his Hamburg letter, then returned- Well, Mounseer Parlandet, M. van Flewker will probably say that, as the bills never happened to be discounted by our firm, it matters nothing to us if they are dishonours)." Luckless M. Parian V" ITe would always try that ilashy Gallic court r»p'f-r <>• his against a sterling English blade's well-tempered steel. The experience of years had not taught him that the touch of the honest weapon ever shivered the pretentious bauble into shreds and yet, gathering them up and piecing them together, he still rushed anew to the fray, ever to meet with the same disaster. Even in that matter of glib repartee, for which his countrymen are so especially famed, he was no match for the blunt and sturdy Briton. Eh ejaculated M. Parlandet, in extreme sur. prise at Whiffle's reply. How ? We-have-not- dees-count-those-bills ?" Oh, dear no," answered Whiffles, calmly. M. <ran Flewker thought it better not." "Marvel-lous foresigh!" ejaculated Pari, casting ap his hands in fcstacy. He quite uuderstood now, why, upon a previous occasion, Van Flewker treated his gross blunder with such apparent leniency. "'The longare I do have the privilege to be associated with the business of Fabian van Flewker and Com- pany, the more I am astonish at the acuteness of my -honoured patron." The merchant had listened to all that passed, and had watched this little scene with huge amusement from the corner of his eye. He always enjoyed the sight of Pari assailing Whiffles, sure that tbo manager would come to speedy grief. Schmidt sends de usual number of tickets for de .Hamburg lottery," said Van Flewker now. Draw- ing for first class begins upon de tenth. I shall allot dese in de ordinary way." The merchant assorted the tickets into four equal heaps then, taking a few from the top of each heap arranged these so as to constitute a fifth. He ten- dered one of .the four first piles to Whiffles, Kleckser, Gwillim, and White respectively, and gave the other to Parl. The manager surveyed his bunch of lottery- tickets with a doleful eye. If there was anything he especially hated, it was the task of finding customers for these. Not thathe had any conscientious scruples on the subject: upon this point, as upon most others, he was entirely free from any such ridiculous ideas. He was simply lazy and disliked trouble. With White the case was otherwise. He had no sooner ascertained by a whisper from Kleckser the merchant's object in apportioning to him, as to the others, a share of the tickets, then he quietly stepped forward, and laid them again upon the desk. Excuse me, sir," he said; but I cannot have any- thing to do with these matters." Van Flewker stared. And why not, Meestare Vhite ?" he inquired. "First," returned Raymond, "lotteries are illegal in England, and whoever distributes tickets is liable to a fine. Next, I believe them to be bad and immoral, and to produce incalculable harm. The latter is my chief reason for declining to have anything to do with them." The three clerks looked at one another and gently shook their heads. M. Parlandet shrugged his shoulders, and turned upon his heel with a low whistle. Van Flewker leant his chin upon his hand, and gazed from behind the mysterious shade of his blue spectacles straight into Raymond's eyes. "You object, first, dat dese tickets are illegal," he 3aid, in a low, concentrated tone, yet with every accent clearly audible throughout the room. Am I to understand we have a spy of de police among us? Sup-pose I—I, Fabian van Flewker, choose to sell lottery tickets ? You would bring me before de magistrate, aha ?" They all bent forward to listen to White's reply. Sir, I am not an informer," returned the young man, proudly. "Goed," said Van Flewker, and a sigh of relief echoed from M. Parlandet's breast. He had a singular dislike, this worthy gentleman, to coming in any way into collision with the powers that be. "You object, second," continued the merchant, U dat you tink lotteries bad and immoral. It is not worth my while to argue dat question. You rerfuse simply from conscientious motives ?" Entirely," answered White. And you will not sell for me dese tickets upon any conditions ?" Sir, I cannot." Dat is, you will not. Good still. Recollect, if you can dispose of dem, it will be much to your advantage. We allow a large commission," pursued the tempter. I repeat, sir, I cannot. Then, for de last time, you positively ref-use ?" demanded the merchant. "Positively, and at all hazards, Mr. van Flewker," was the reply. chap 7 His eyes still shrouded behind the blue glasses, Van v'lewker still bent forward, still gazed into Raymond's face. He actually experienced a new sensation. Here was a man with a conscience. The merchant had read of the thing before, as of some strange and recondite creature-a dinornis, now, or a blue geranium, or some other curious and rare production. But here was the article itself—alive, before him, in his own room. He had never seen such a man, though he had heard dimly that the genus existed. Here it was. And he gazed npon it with correspond- ing curiosity. Shall I photograph for you the thoughts that chased each other rapidly through the merchant's brain as he looked into the eyes, calmly, yet not defiantly meeting his These were they "This is, then, a man with a conscience, the stuff of which was composed those ancient martyrs who perished for their faith. There is a look in this young fellow's eye that tells me he would do the same. Still, he is in my power. I can turn him out of my service this moment, if I please; and he would go without a murmur. Shall I do so ? Will it pay better ? I think not. Circumstances may arise in which I may need this description of article. It is not always in the market. No he shall stay. Meestare Vhite," he continued, aloud, I am not accustom dat my people shall dispute my orders. But, at de same time, I have no desire to constrain you against your will. If you pref-er not to sell for me dese tickets, and reap a profit, de loss is yours, not mine. Messieurs Vhiffle and Gwillim, Herr Kleckser, you will share Mr. Vhite's tickets among 11 you." So Van Flewker put his man with a conscience away upon a convenient shelf, to be taken down when wanted. The three clerks eagerly started forward to fulfil their master's bidding. In their eyes there was but ,ne Mammon, and Van Flewker was Ms prophet. His wSTwas law. Let me be Just, however, it was not so coirh the greed of added gain by which they wert ambnated, as by a wish to atone by ready obedience for the check given to the merchant's plans by their new companion. Kleckser and Gwillim even secretly admired the young man's pluck and spirit, although they inwardly confessed they would not have had the courage to act as he had done. Whiffles, of sterner mould and less enlarged ideas, simply thought White foolishly strict. (To be continued.)