In the multiplicity of his affairs, Bullion had almost forgotten Fletcher, and left him to pursue his own course. But there was a man who had not forgotten him, and who followed all his movements with vigilant eyes. Sandford was convinced that Fletcher had in some way become prosperous, and he now advanced to use the peculiar note as a draft on the miserable debtor's funds. There was the same wily approach, the same covert allusion to Fletcher's supposed resources, the same peremptory demand, and the same ugly threat which had so desperately maddened him when the subject was broached before. Fletcher felt the tightening of the lasso, but could not free himself from the fatal noose. He must pay whatever the cold-eyed creditor demanded. Two thousand dollars was the sum asked for the acknowledgment of having appropriated five hundred. Twopence for halfpenny has been accounted fair usury among the Jews; but in Christian communities it is only crime that accumulates interest like that. As a measure of precaution, Sandford had made a copy of the paper and prepared an explanatory statement; these he now inclosed in an envelope, in Fletcher's presence, and directed it to Messrs. Foggarty, Danforth, and Dot. Then drawing out his watch, as if to make a careful computation of time, he said,-- "Nine, ten, eleven,--yes,--at eleven, to-morrow, I shall expect to receive the sum; otherwise I shall feel it my duty to send this letter by a trusty hand. In fact, I suppose I have hardly done right in not putting the gentlemen on their guard before." A cold sweat covered Fletcher's shivering limbs, and for a moment he stood irresolute; but recollecting Bullion, he rallied himself, and, assenting to the proposition, bade Sandford good-bye; then, as the only revenge practicable, he cursed him with the heartiest emphasis, when his back was turned. Presently Tonsor came with the news of Kerbstone's failure. "The street is full of rumors," he said;--"Bullion is a large owner in the Neversink." "Bosh!" said Fletcher,--"Bullion is in there for fifty thousand, to be sure; but what is that? He has other property enough,--half a million, at least." "Still, a pebble brought down Goliath. A house in New York, worth a million, failed yesterday for want of twenty-five thousand." "Don't you be alarmed. Bullion knows. He isn't going to fail." "I want to get ten thousand from him to take some shares I bought for him." "How soon?" "Now; and he is not at his office." "I'll get you the money from our house. I haven't deposited the funds for to-day yet, and I'll put in a memorandum which Bullion will make good." "Hadn't you better wait?" "No; it doesn't matter. He's all right; and it isn't best to break his orders for any ten thousand dollars." Fletcher handed the money to the broker, and, as bank-hours were then about over, he put his papers in order and went home.