“No, they are not yet signed,” replied Gomer “but a part of the provisions have been carried out, for I have advanced Grahame a large sum of money.” “I knows it; on the understanding that if the agreement ain’t completed, he is to return all the money advanced.” “Exactly.” “He can’t do it,” returned Chewkle, emphatically. “You came down upon him with that proposal, like a hangel from the sky, and saved him from crunching up like a bit o’ burnt wood--you saved him from wuss--much wuss--but that’s neither here nor there. How-somever, he won’t let a chance slip to get the whole of the estate into his claws. I’ll try a leetle more o’ this brandy, if you please; it’s some o’ the right sort, this is,” subjoined Chewkle, labouring under a delirious delusion on that point. His glass was replenished, and the interval seemed to give Nathan Gomer time to cogitate, although, actually, his plan had been matured before he sought Chewkle at the railway station. At length he said-- “I will see Wilton, but I cannot make the journey to Harleydale until three weeks have elapsed.” “Three weeks,” echoed Chewkle; “say three years. A-hem! Wilton may be dead before three weeks is over.” “Scoundrel!” thought Gomer. He fixed his eye upon Chewkle, and said-- “That is as Providence directs! For myself, I have important business in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Dublin, which must be transacted, and I have no one to nominate in my place if I go to Harleydale.” “Could I do the work?” exclaimed Chewkle, falling plump into the trap. “You?” exclaimed Gomer, inquiringly. “Yes; I am used to all sorts of commission work, bill-broking and collecting. I’ll hunt up a man with any officer in the force, and I’ll dun a man out of his account and out of his mind with any collector in the kingdom.” “What commission?” asked Gomer. “Oh! I’ll leave that to you. I has five per cent on small things, and two and a-half on large, and my expenses, but I’ll leave that to you.” Gomer sat and mused, and expressed doubts as to whether he could trust him, and played so much and so well with his fish that the latter absolutely gorged himself with the hook. He importuned the dwarf so urgently at last to employ him in the business he spoke of, that the little man consented, on condition that he started to Birmingham by the three o’clock train that day. To this proposition Chewkle assented readily, and declared himself ready to go home to his lodgings at once, get a few things for his journey, and then depart on his mission. Gomer accompanied him, furnished him with papers, instructions, and money for his travelling expenses, and never left him until he saw the train leave the platform at Euston Square Station, with Chewkle inside, bound for Birmingham.