"And leave him free to seek another pension on the other," said Mr. Stenhouse; "won't do: no--they are rapacious, those people; that would only rouse his appetite, the old rogue. A man who gets one thing easily always hankers for another. He'd try Sir John immediately, and double his terms. No, no; if he gets anything, he must understand distinctly what he gets it for. If I were you, Pouncet, I'd lose no time, either. He can't live long, that's one good thing." "I never have bribed any man!" cried Mr. Pouncet, vehemently--"I'll not begin now. I don't mind doing my share for any old servant; but I--I can't stand this, Stenhouse! What do you mean by turning it all on me?" "Simply because he can do me no harm, my dear fellow," said the smiling Mr. Stenhouse. "Stop now! don't let us get impatient; here is our young friend has something to say." Mr. Stenhouse was already benevolently aware that the remarks of "our young friend" were gall and bitterness to his old partner, and perhaps if anything could have made Horace's new patron more gracious, it was this fact. "I was about to say," said Horace, with a little eagerness, "that the old man believes me a friend of the young Squire, as he calls him, and that I am quite willing to be made the channel of communication with him. If you trust it to me, he shall never know that the money does not come from Roger Musgrave; and my own opinion is that this will be the best arrangement. If he wants more money, at least he will come to you to seek it, and not to--" The young man stopped short prudently, and went no further. Mr. Pouncet could not bear the emphasis upon that you, or the look of personal appeal which accompanied it, at least from any one but his old partner. He got up abruptly, and pushed his chair from the table. "Stenhouse, will you settle this business? I'll agree to your decision," he said, pushing hastily away. "I've--I've got an appointment at twelve o'clock. I'm rather too late already; you can settle it without me."