For all his bronzing the color would easily mount into this young sailor's cheeks-it did so now, and he spoke with a little offence. "You're wondering how so much comes to the like of me," he said. "Well, it's easily answered. I sold my berth in the 'Good Queen Anne'-about the neatest boat in the docks, and the jolliest berth a feller ever had the luck to find-for this yer money. It comes in handy now as I'm about to be wed. But don't change it if you have no mind to, Mr. Tiggins. I can pass it in at the bank to-morrow morning." At these words Bet turned deadly pale and gripped her companion's arm. "No," she whispered hoarsely: "we must have the change to-night." Higgins, who had been watching the pair, now spoke in that oily and seductive tone which had brought many excellent customers to his door. "What do you take me for, Scarlett?" he said. "Ain't you, so to speak, an old friend, and one of the best customers as this yer house can wish to see? Of course I'll change the notes, man, and good luck to you and your lass there. Yes--of course I'll change the notes; but seeing as I'm poor, and the times is 'ard, you won't object to the usual percentage for obleeging a neighbor?" "And what's that?" said Will. "I'm in a hurry," he added; "so I'll listen to anything in reason." "I charge interest a shilling in the pound," said Higgins. "That'll be ten shillings on the two notes, and the ring seven-and-six--seventeen-and-six in total; that leaves nine pounds two-and-six-pence change--and here you air. Only," here Higgins produced pen and ink, "you'll obleege _me_ by writing your name and where you lodges on the back of the notes." "What's that for?" said Will, drawing back a step or two. "Nothing, ef you don't want to do it," responded Higgins; "only I can't nohow change the notes without--it's a precaution I allus uses with regard to bank-notes, which sailors don't have every day in their pockets. No address, no change--you can please yourself." "Oh, Will, do write," whispered Bet; and so urged, Will did dip his pen in the ink, and scrawled his name in a somewhat uncertain calligraphy on the back of each note. Mrs. Jobling's address was further added. He then received his change, and he and Bet hurried out of the shop. "Sold!" whispered Higgins to himself; and an ugly grin appeared upon his face. "Now to send these notes up to the bank the first thing to-morrow,--and--and--well, I have no love for Isaac Dent, and Scarlett's the sort of feller as no one could dislike; but the times is 'ard and the worst of us must live." Here Higgins rang a little bell. When his attendant answered the summons he told him that he was going out, but that if a sailor called Dent looked in, he was to be asked to wait.