"Come, my dear little Turk, we are ready," said one of the number, with a very gruff voice, laying a hand,--it was such a hard hand,--on the shoulders of the Financier, "We're a-dyin' to go with you; ain't we, boys?" "Dyin' ain't the word,--we're starvin' to death to be alone with the gentleman in blue trowsers," responded another. Israel bit his lips in silent rage. "Give me the papers," he said, in a sullen voice, and following a sign from the finger of the judge, he advanced to the table, and beheld the documents, the first of which he read. It was an important document, containing a brief statement of all Israel's financial affairs,--evidently prepared by one who knew all about him,--together with his solemn promise to redeem every one of his notes, dollar for dollar. "Could Fetch have betrayed me?"--Israel hissed the words between his set teeth, as he took up the pen.--"If I thought so, I'd cut his throat." He signed, shook his gold spectacles, and uttered a deep sigh. "Now, the other paper," said the judge, "its contents are concealed by another sheet, but there is room for your signature." Israel's little eyes shone wickedly as he gazed upon the sheet of paper, which hid the mysterious document. He chewed the handle of his pen between his teeth,--stood for a moment in great perplexity, and then signed at the bottom of the sheet, the musical name of "ISRAEL YORKE," and then fell back in the chair wiping the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his Turkish jacket. "Anything more?" he gasped. "You are free," said the judge; "you may now change your dress, and leave this house." Israel bounced from his seat. "Yet, hold a single moment. One of these gentlemen will accompany you wherever you go; eat, drink, walk, sit, sleep with you, and be introduced by you to all your financial friends, as your moneyed friend from the country,----" "Why, you must be the devil incarnate," screamed Israel, and he beat his clenched hand against the arm of the chair. "It will be the business of your attendant to accompany you to your banking house, and see that you commence the redemption of your notes at nine o'clock this morning. He will report all your movements to me. Were you suffered to go alone, you might, in a fit of absence, glide out of public view, and,--Havana is such a pleasant residence for runaway bankers, especially in winter time." Israel gave utterance to an oath. The judge, without remarking this pardonable ebullition of feeling, quietly addressed his twelve,-- "Which of you gentlemen will put yourself under this gentleman's orders, as his attendant and shadow?"