"I beg your pardon, Mr. Quirk--but you really misunderstand me; I was laughing only at the absurd inconsistency of the fellow: he's a most transparent little fool, and takes _us_ for such. Go abroad! Ridiculous pretence!--In his precious postscript he undoes all--he says he is only often _thinking_ of going--- pshaw!--That the wretch is in great distress, is very probable; but it must go hard with him before he either commits suicide or goes abroad, I warrant him: I've no fears on _that_ score--but there _is_ a point in the letter that may be worth considering--I mean the fellow's hint about borrowing money on his prospects." "Yes, to be sure--the very thing that struck _me_." [Gammon faintly smiled.] "I never thought much about the _other_ part of the letter--all stuff about going abroad--pho!--But to be sure, if he's trying to raise money, he may get into keen hands.--Do you really think he _has_ been trying on anything of the sort?" "Oh no--of course it's only a little lie of his--or he must have found out some greater fool than himself, which I had not supposed possible. But however that may be, I really think, Mr. Quirk, it's high time that we should take some decided step." "Well,--yes, it may be," said Quirk, slowly--"and I must say that Mortmain encouraged me a good deal the day before yesterday." "Well, and you know what Mr. Frankpledge"---- "Oh, as to Frankpledge--hem!" "What of Mr. Frankpledge, Mr. Quirk?" inquired Gammon, rather tartly. "There! there!--Always the way--but what does it signify? Come, come, Gammon, we know each other too well to quarrel!--I don't mean anything disrespectful to Mr. Frankpledge, but when Mortmain has been one's conveyancer these twenty years, and never once--hem!--but, however, he tells me that we are now standing on sure ground, or that he don't know what sure ground is, and sees no objection to our even taking preliminary steps in the matter, which indeed I begin to think it high time to do!--And as for securing ourselves in respect of any advances to Titmouse--he suggests our taking a bond, conditioned--say, for the payment of £500 or £1,000 on demand, under cover of which one might advance him, you know, just such sums as, and when we pleased; one could stop when one thought fit; one could begin with three or four pounds a-week, and increase as his prospects improved--eh!" "You know _I've_ no objection to such an arrangement; but consider, Mr. Quirk, we must have patience; it will take a long while to get our verdict, you know, and perhaps as long to _secure_ it afterwards; and this horrid little wretch all the while on our hands; what the deuce to do with him, I really don't know!" "Humph, humph!" grunted Quirk, looking very earnestly and uneasily at Gammon. "And what I chiefly fear is this,--suppose he should get dissatisfied with the amount of our advances, and, knowing the state and prospects of the cause, should _then_ turn restive?"