"I devoutly trust that it _is_ only temporary! For your own and family's sake," he added quickly, observing the watchfulness with which his every look and word was regarded by his companion. "Any proposal, Mr. Aubrey," he continued with the same apparent kindness of manner, but with serious deliberation, "which you may think proper to make, I am ready--eager--to receive and consider in a liberal spirit. I repeat--If I, only, had to be consulted--you would leave this room with a lightened heart; but to be plain and candid, our client, Mr. Titmouse, is a very difficult person to deal with! I pledge my word of honor to you--[_Oh Gammon! Gammon! Gammon!_]--that I have repeatedly urged upon Mr. Titmouse to release you from all the rents which had been received by you previously to your having legal notice of the late proceedings." I suppose Gammon felt that this declaration was not received as implicitly as he desired, and had expected; for with a slight stiffness, he added, "I assure you, sir, that it is a fact. I have always been of opinion that the law is harsh, and even faulty in principle, which, in such a case as yours--where the possessor of an estate, to which he believed himself born, is ousted by a title of which he had no previous knowledge, nor MEANS of knowledge"--Gammon uttered this very pointedly, and with his eye fixed searchingly upon that of Mr. Aubrey--"requires him to make good the rents which he had so innocently appropriated to his own use. That is my _opinion_, though it may be wrong. I am bound to say, however, that as the law now stands--if Mr. Titmouse should, contrary to my advice, determine to stand upon his strict rights"----Gammon paused, shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and looked with melancholy significance at Mr. Aubrey. "I am entirely at his mercy! that I perfectly understand. I do trust, however, that in the name of our common humanity he will have some consideration for the helpless--the miserable situation in which I am so unexpectedly placed," said Aubrey, with mournful energy. "Never having imagined it necessary to save money"---- "Oh no--nor, with such an income as yours was, to resort, I fear, to any of the ordinary modes of providing against emergencies--by _insurance_ of your life, for instance"--interposed Gammon, sighing. "No--sir! nothing of the sort"--["Ah!--the deuce you have not!" thought Gammon]--"and I confess--I now bitterly feel--how improvident I have been! My situation is so deplorable and desperate, that disguise would be absurd, even could I stoop to it; and I declare, in the presence of Heaven, Mr. Gammon, that without giving up the little remnant of plate I have preserved, and my books, I am unable to liquidate even the amount of your bill sent in the day before yesterday"--Gammon gazed at Aubrey mournfully, but in silence--"and if my miserable remnant of means _be_ so appropriated, we are _literally beggars_"--he paused, and his voice faltered.