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"Pray what do you mean by 'but'?" demanded Barnabas

"That the sum is--inadequate, sir"

"Twenty-two thousand pounds is not enough then?"

"It is--not enough, Mr Beverley"

"Then, if you will tell me the precise aain, Jasper Gaunt srieve to say, is quite impossible, Mr Beverley"

"Why?"

"Because I e my clients' affairs to a

third party; and, sir,--I never break my rules"

"Then--you refuse to tell me?"

"It is--quite impossible"

So there fell a silence while the wide, fearless eyes of Youth

looked into the narroatchful eyes of Experience Then Barnabas

rose, and began to pace to and fro across the luxurious carpet; he

walked with his head bent, and the hands behind his back were

tightly clenched Suddenly he stopped, and throwing up his head faced

Jasper Gaunt, who sat lolling back in his chair again

"I have heard," said he, "that this sum enty thousand pounds,

but, as you say, it may be more,--a few pounds more, or a few

hundredsto make you an offer--"

"Which I must--refuse"

"And my offer is this: instead of twenty thousand pounds I will