While he thus thought, and Burrel's meditations continued, though of a very different nature, a sudden ring of the bell roused them both from their reveries; and, after a short _reconnoissance_ through the window, the miser exclaimed, "It is Sir Sidney Delaware, I declare!" "Then you will be so good, Mr. Tims," said Burrel, in a tone sufficiently peremptory, "not to refer or allude to me, in any shape or way, as the person who wished to lend the money." "Oh, certainly not! certainly not!" replied the miser, with a shrewd glance; "it is a bad speculation that--but the Ridout business, if you will but think over it--will you see this Sir Sidney!" "I have no objection," answered Burrel; and the miser, bidding his dirty maid show the gentleman in, Sir Sidney Delaware was ushered into the parlor the moment after. As soon as he saw that there was a stranger present, the baronet paused, and for an instant seemed as if he would have drawn back, saying, "You are engaged, Mr. Tims; I was not aware you had any one with you." "Not at all; not at all, my dear sir!" said Mr. Tims. "Sir Sidney, Mr. Burrel--Mr. Burrel, Sir Sidney Delaware!" "I am happy to have an opportunity, sir," said Burrel, "of returning to you my personal thanks for the permission to shoot over your grounds, which you were kind enough to grant me." "Where there is no obligation conferred, sir," replied the baronet, somewhat distantly, "there can be no occasion for thanks. I do not shoot--my son has not this year taken out a license; and it is quite as well that the game should be shot by you, who ask permission, as by those who do not ask at all." He paused for an instant, while the color deepened in Burrel's cheek; but the baronet's heart instantly reproached him for an uncourteous reply, and he added, "I hope you have found sport." "Plenty of game," answered Burrel; "but the birds are very wild." "That is a very natural consequence," said Sir Sidney Delaware, "of the immense number of persons whose notions of property are daily growing more limited." "I trust, indeed, that something may soon be done," replied Burrel, "to correct the extensive system of poaching." "Probably we shall soon have one of those beautiful pieces of legislation on the subject," replied Sir Sidney, "which will prevent people from committing the crime, by rendering it none in the eye of the law. But, Mr. Tims, as I have a little business of a private nature on which I must speak with you, I will probably call upon you to-morrow, if you are likely to be disengaged." "No delay must take place on my account," said Burrel, rising. "My business with this gentleman is over; and therefore I will leave you."