Nothing was more natural than that Mr. Holdfast, having thus far assisted the young lady, should inquire if he could be of any further use to her. Miss Lydia Wilson really was in quest of a broker, to whom she had been recommended to negotiate the sale of her bonds, but in her confusion and terror she had forgotten both name and address. Ascertaining the nature of her mission, Mr. Holdfast offered to introduce her to a respectable firm; she accepted his offer, and they walked together to the broker's office. On the way they conversed, and Mr. Holdfast learnt, among other particulars, that the young lady was an orphan, and that these bonds represented all that she had in the world to depend upon. In the broker's office the young lady produced her securities and gave them to the principal of the firm. He sent out at once to ascertain the exact price of the market; the clerk departed, with the bonds in his possession, and was absent longer than he was expected to be. At length he returned, and requested a private interview with his employer. The interview took place, and the broker presently returned, and inquired of Miss Wilson how she became possessed of the bonds. The lady replied haughtily that she was not in a broker's office to be catechised by a stranger about her private affairs; and upon that Mr. Holdfast also spoke warmly in the lady's behalf. The broker rejoined that Miss Lydia Wilson was as much a stranger to him as he was to her. Again, Mr. Holdfast, seeing that the lovely woman who had been thrown upon his protection was agitated by the broker's manner, interposed. "You forget," he said, "that it was I who introduced this lady to your firm. Is not my introduction a sufficient guarantee?" "Amply sufficient," said the broker. "But business is business; such securities as these cannot easily be disposed of." "Why?" inquired Mr. Holdfast. "Because," said the broker, "they are forgeries." "Then I am ruined!" cried the young lady. "No," said Mr. Holdfast. "If the bonds _are_ forgeries, you shall not be the loser--that is, if you will confer upon me the honour of accepting me as your banker." The young lady could not continue so delicate a conversation in the presence of a man who seemed to doubt her. She rose to leave the broker's office, and when she and Mr. Holdfast were again in the open air, he said: "Allow me to know more of you. I shall undoubtedly be able to assist you. You cannot conceal from me that the unexpected discovery of this forgery is likely to deeply embarrass you. Do not consider me impertinent when I hazard the guess that you had an immediate use for some part of the money you expected to receive from the sale of these securities." "You guess rightly," said the young lady; "I wished to discharge a few trifling debts." Her lips trembled, and her eyes were filled with tears. "And--asking you to pardon my presumption--your purse is not too heavily weighted."