"Well," says Mr. Levi, scrawling florid capitals on the table with his office pen, and speaking with much deliberation, "I heard you were going to make a very rich match; and if the shettlementsh was agreed on, I don't know but we might shee our way to advancing all you want." Sir Richard gets up, and walks slowly two or three times up and down the room. "I'll see about Blount," said he; "I'll talk to him. I think those things are payable in six or eight days; and that tallow-chandler won't bother me to-morrow, I daresay. I'll go to-day and talk to Blount, and suppose you come to me to-morrow evening at Mortlake. Will nine o'clock do for you? I sha'n't keep you half-an-hour." "A--all right, Shir--nine, at Mortlake. If you want any diamondsh, I have a beoo--ootiful collar and pendantsh, in that shaafe--brilliantsh. I can give you the lot three thoushand under cosht prishe. You'll wa--ant a preshent for the young la--ady." "Yes, I suppose so," said Sir Richard, abstractedly. "To-morrow night--to-morrow evening at nine o'clock." He stopped at the door, looking silently down the stairs, and then without leave-taking or looking behind him, he ran down, and drove to Mr. Blount's house, close by, in Manchester Buildings. For more than a year the young gentleman whom we are following this morning had cherished vague aspirations, of which good Lady May had been the object. There was nothing to prevent their union, for the lady was very well disposed to listen. But Richard Arden did not like ridicule, and there was no need to hurry; and besides, within the last half-year had arisen another flame, less mercenary; also, perhaps, reciprocated. Grace Maubray was handsome, animated; she had that combination of air, tact, cleverness, which enter into the idea of _chic_. With him it had been a financial, but notwithstanding rather agreeable, speculation. Hitherto there seemed ample time before him, and there was no need to define or decide. Now, you will understand, the crisis had arrived, which admitted of neither hesitation nor delay. He was now at Blount's hall-door. He was certain that he could trust Blount with anything, and he meant to learn from him what _dot_ his Uncle David intended bestowing on the young lady. Mr. Blount was at home. He smiled kindly, and took the young gentleman's hand, and placed a chair for him. CHAPTER LXIV. FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER. Mr. Blount was intelligent: he was an effective though not an artful diplomatist. He promptly undertook to sound Mr. Longcluse without betraying Sir Richard. Richard Arden did not allude to his losses. He took good care to appear pretty nearly as usual. When he confessed his _tendresse_ for Miss Maubray, the grave gentleman smiled brightly, and took him by the hand. "If _you_ should marry the young lady, mark you, she will have sixty thousand pounds down, and sixty thousand more after Mr. David Arden's death. That is splendid, Sir, and I think it will please him _very_ much."