"Oh, Charles!" faltered Miss Aubrey, sinking down on a chair exhausted, and burying her face in her handkerchief. "Now, sir--if _you_ please," commenced Grab, turning to Mr. Aubrey, "we must be thinking of going, seeing, I expect, I've another job on hand to-day; would you prefer coaching, or walking it? Excuse me, sir--I've seen many such things as this; and I know it's only a haggrawating of your feelings to be stopping here--the longer the worse! What must be, had better be done at once, and got over with. I've been a-telling this here young lady a many times, that it's no use fretting--and that in course you'll be soon back again, when you've done what's needful; so hadn't my man here better go and get a coach?" "It is so, indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Aubrey, with a profound sigh--and endeavored for some time by all the means in his power to soothe and pacify his wretched companions. "Can I speak a word with you alone, before I go?" he presently inquired of the officer. "In course, sir," replied Grab; and promising to return within a minute or two's time, Mr. Aubrey quitted the room with Grab close at his heels; and presently they were both standing in his little study. "Betwixt ourselves, sir," quoth Grab, in a confidential tone, "you've _rather_ keen hands to deal with;" here he laid his finger along his nose, and winked his eye--"and you'll lose no time in turning yourself about. You understand, sir?" "Perfectly," replied Mr. Aubrey, with a sigh. "Who gave you your instructions in this matter?" "Mr. Snap--the junior partner--it was him that brought this here warrant to me"---- "Are you sure? Was it not Mr. Gammon?" "No, sir--Snap--Snap; that little cockatoo of a chap. Mr. Gammon called at my office half an hour afterwards, to be sure"---- "I thought so," interrupted Mr. Aubrey, quickly, his face flushing, and feeling relieved from a vast pressure. "Ay," continued Grab, phlegmatically, "_he'll_ see you don't come to much harm in this matter"---- "What do you mean?" inquired Mr. Aubrey, with surprise. "Lord! I could tell by his way. He called to say that, since they had resolved to go agin you, he hoped, we 'd show you every attention, and deal easy by you"---- "Indeed!" "Ay--indeed! And I think he said it was a cruel business--nay, I'm _sure_ he did; and that, as for him, he washed his hands on 't!" Mr. Aubrey seemed confounded. "I don't somehow think him and his partners are on the best of terms together--but that's no business o' mine, you know, sir! And now, sir, excuse me, but we must be jogging." "But, my friend, is there really no way," inquired Mr. Aubrey, with manifest perturbation, "by which I can delay accompanying you for a few hours"---- "Oh can't, sir--_un_possible!" "You can remain in possession here--I will be in your custody--I have a little plate, books, and furniture, which would surely stand sufficient security"----