“Is this the Cousin Mary I have heard you speak of,” said Merl,--“the great horsewoman, and she that ventures out alone on the Atlantic in a mere skiff?” Martin nodded. His temper was almost an overmatch for him, and he dared not trust himself to speak. “I should like to see her amazingly, Captain,” resumed Merl. “Remember, sir, you have no lien upon _her_,” said Martin, sternly. The Jew smirked and ran his fingers through his hair with the air of one who deemed such an eventuality by no means so very remote. “Do you know, Master Merl,” said Martin, staring at him from head to foot with an expression the reverse of complimentary, “I 'm half disposed to give you a few lines to my cousin; and if you 'll not take the thing as a _mauvais plaisanterie_ on my part, I will do so.”. “Quite the contrary, Captain. I 'll deem it a great favor, indeed,” said Merl, with an admirable affectation of unconsciousness. “Here goes, then,” said Martin, sitting down to a table, and preparing his writing materials, while in a hurried hand he began:-- “'Dear Cousin Mary,--This will introduce to you Mr. Herman Merl, who visits your remote regions on a tour of----What shall I say?” “Pleasure,--amusement,” interposed Merl. “No, when I _am_ telling a fib, I like a big one,--I 'll say, philanthropy, Merl; and there's nothing so well adapted to cover those secret investigations you are bent upon,--a tour of philanthropy. “'You will, I am sure, lend him all possible assistance in his benevolent object,--the same being to dispose of the family acres,--and at the same time direct his attention to whatever may be matter of interest,--whether mines, quarries, or other property easily convertible into cash,--treating him in all respects as one to whom I owe many obligations--and several thousand pounds.' “Will that do, think you?” “Perfectly; nothing better.”