Mr. Jericho's explosion, and his unpleasant conduct generally--especially regarding Monica's dowry--had altered Mr. Candytuft's matrimonial intentions for the present: there were delays. "He had suddenly discovered some dormant right to some long-forgotten property, and he meant to secure that, and lay it as an offering at the feet of his bride." How the foolish Sir Arthur agreed to marry Agatha without a dowry, to the intense delight of Jericho--how splendid preparations for the wedding were made--how the wedding-party, Jericho included, waited at the church for the bridegroom, who never came (he had overslept himself in consequence of an overdose of medicine taken to steady his nerves)--for these details my reader is again referred to Mr. Jerrold, who describes the whole most enjoyably. Leech draws the baronet awakened by his servant, but too late: the canonical hour has passed. A report was spread that Sir Arthur had taken poison to avoid the Jericho connection. Just at this time Mr. Jericho was offered a most satisfactory mortgage--so any way there was land for his money--no less than five-and-forty thousand pounds, by his friend the Duke of St. George. Jericho lent the money, in the hope of climbing into the House of Lords with the assistance of the Duke; but this last drain upon his resources, with its penalty of attenuation, had left very little of him to go anywhere. "He had shrunk," says the author. "How horribly he had dwindled, how wretchedly small he had become! Ay, how small! He would measure himself, he would know the exact waste. Whereupon Jericho took the silken cord and passed it round his breast. Why, it would twice encircle him--twice! and a piece to spare. With horror and loathing he flung the cord into the fire. He would never again take damning evidence against himself." It became evident to Jericho that, if he desired to retain enough of his person to enable his friends and relations to recognise him, the drain upon the chest notes must cease. "He would, therefore, not draw another note--no, not another. He would live upon what he had. He would turn the foolish superfluities about him into hard, tangible money." Bent upon turning everything belonging not only to himself, but to his wife and daughters, into cash, he sent for Mrs. Jericho. "The trembling wife had scarcely power to meet the eyes of her helpmate. In two days twenty years seemed to have gathered upon him. His face looked brown, thin, and withered as last year's leaf. His whole body bent and swayed like a piece of paper moved by the air. As he held his hand aloof, the light shone through it. It was plain there was some horrid compact between her lord and the infernal powers, or--it was all as one--the tyranny of conscience had worn him to his present condition. "'Mrs. Jericho, madam, you will instantly bring me all your diamonds--jewellery--all. Give like orders to your daughters, the mincing harpies that eat me.'"