On the fourth day, therefore, Mr Davenant commenced operations. He alluded to a particular foreign railway, the shares of which were then much below par, but which were certain, at a future and no very distant period, to arrive at a considerable premium. He said that he would willingly invest L.5000 in these shares, certain that in a short time he should quadruple the sum, if it were not for the payment of his girls' marriage portions, for which he should soon be called on. And after a great deal of preparatory 'beating about the bush,' he _candidly_, as he said, asked his uncle if he would lend him this L.5000 for twelve months. Mr Atkinson looked grave, which his nephew observing, _he_ looked grave also. 'You see, Samuel,' said the old man, 'if it were really to do you a service, you should have the money. If your _business_ required it--if you were in temporary embarrassment, and needed these thousands to help you out of it--_they should be yours_; but'---- He paused, and fixed his eyes on the ground in deep thought. Mr Davenant started, and coloured as he listened; and involuntarily he thought of poor Lucy's slighted advice. Her earnest words, 'Indeed--indeed--the _truth_ is the best and surest policy,' rung clearly in his ears, and he felt now that she was _right_: but it was too late now (or at least _he_ thought so) to repair his error, and return to the straight path. He had made a point, ever since his uncle's arrival, of boasting to him of his improved prospects, of the solid basis on which his fortune stood, and of the flourishing state of his business. He could not now retract all he had said, and lay bare his difficulties--his necessities. Besides, even now perhaps that would not be _prudent_: old Atkinson might be but _trying_ him after all. Mr Davenant's little moment of right feeling soon passed away, and he was, alas! 'himself again' by the time his uncle again began to speak. 'I don't like these speculations, Samuel,' said he; 'they are dangerous things: if once you get involved in them, you never know when to leave off: besides, they distract your attention from more legitimate objects: your business might suffer. The business of a man prone to speculate in matters he is unused to deal with rarely flourishes.' Mr Davenant inwardly acknowledged the truth of these remarks. It was by _speculation_ that he was brought to his present embarrassments; but he said nothing. 'Take my advice, Sam,' continued Mr Atkinson, placing his hand impressively on his nephew's arm, 'and have nothing to do with these railways. Whether you gain or lose by them, they distract your attention, you see, from your business, and so you lose one way at all events. Don't meddle with them.' Mr Davenant felt it imperative to make one grand effort more.