"Certainly, my dear Titmouse."--Gammon affixed his signature, after a moment's consideration.--"Now we are both bound--we are friends for life! Let us shake hands, my dear, dear Titmouse, to bind the bargain!" They did so, Gammon cordially taking into his hands those of Titmouse, who, in his anxiety and excitement, never once thought of asking Mr. Gammon to allow him to read over what had been just signed. "Oh Lord!" he exclaimed, heaving a very deep sigh, "It seems as if we'd been only in a dream! I begin to feel _something like_ again!--it's really all right?" "On my sacred word of honor," replied Gammon, laying his hand on his heart, "provided you perform the engagement into which you have this day entered." "Never fear! honor bright!" said Titmouse, placing _his_ on his heart, with as solemn a look as he could assume. Mr. Gammon, having folded up the paper, put it into his pocket-book. "I was a trifle too deep for you, Titmouse, eh?" said he, good-humoredly. "How could you suppose me green enough to bring you the _real_ documents?" he added with perfect command of voice and feature. "Where are they?" inquired Titmouse, timidly. "At a banker's, in a double-iron strong box, with three different locks." "Lord!--But, _in course_, you'll put them into the fire when I've performed my agreement, eh?" Gammon looked at him for a moment, doubtful what answer to make to this unexpected question. "My dear Titmouse," said he at length, "I will be candid--I must preserve them--but no human eye shall ever see them except my own." "My stars!--Excuse me"--stammered Titmouse, uneasily. "Never fear _my_ honor, Titmouse! Have you ever had reason to do so?" "No--never! It's quite true! And why don't you trust _me_?" "Have you forgotten!--_Did_ I not trust you--_as you supposed_"--quickly subjoined Gammon, positively on the point of again committing himself--"and when you fancied you really had in your power the precious original documents?" "Oh! well"--said Titmouse, his face flushing all over--"but that's all past and gone." "You _must_ rely on my honor--and I'll tell you why. What would be easier than for me to pretend to you that the papers which you might see me burn, were really the originals--and yet be no such thing?" "In course--yes; I see!" replied Titmouse--who, however, had really not comprehended the case which Gammon had put to him. "Well--but--I say--excuse me, Mr. Gammon"--said Titmouse, hesitatingly returning, as Gammon imagined, to the charge--"but--you said something about the _real_ heir." "Certainly. There _is_ such a person, I assure you!" "Well--but since you and I, you know, have made it up, and are friends for life--eh? What's to be done with the fellow? (betwixt ourselves!)"