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This littleoccurred on the day after Felix Carbury's return froreat duty of his life to get the consent of old Mel that he would have to put one bell on the cat, and he thought that for the present that was sufficient In his heart of hearts he was afraid of Melmotte But, then, as he knew very well, Nidderdale was intent on the saht, was a very queer fellow That talking about the Bible, and the forgiving of trespasses, was very queer; and that allusion to theof heiresses very queer indeed He knew that Nidderdale wanted to marry the heiress, and Nidderdale must also know that he wanted to h to talk about it! And now the o there oftener than I do, and perhaps you could do it best,' said Sir Felix

'Go where?'

'To the Board'

'But you're always at his house He'd be civil to me, perhaps, because I'm a lord: but then, for the saer fool of the two'

'I don't see that at all,' said Sir Felix

'I ain't afraid of him, if you mean that,' continued Lord Nidderdale 'He's a wretched old reprobate, and I don't doubt but he'd skin you and me if he could make money off our carcases But as he can't skin me, I'll have a shy at him On the whole I think he rather likes me, because I've always been on the square with hiirl to-morrow'

'Would you?' Sir Felix did not at all mean to doubt his friend's assertion, but felt it hard to answer so very strange a statement

'But then she don't want me, and I ain't quite sure that I want her Where the devil would a fellow find himself if the money wasn't all there?' Lord Nidderdale then sauntered away, leaving the baronet in a deep study of thought as to such a condition of things as that which his lordship had suggested Where the mischief would he, Sir Felix Carbury, be, if he were to irl, and then to find that the money was not all there?

On the following Friday, which was the Board day, Nidderdale went to the great man's offices in Abchurch Lane, and so contrived that he walked with the great racious in his manner to Lord Nidderdale, but had never, up to this moment, had any speech with his proposed son-in-law about business 'I wanted just to ask you so on the chairman's arm