On this the jeweller expostulated, saying that really
the diamonds had been sold such a bargain that the
firm had always looked upon it as a ready money trans'p
action, and had expected to receive the amount of their
bill long before this ; whieh threw Mr. Nicholls into a
great passion ; and he said that he could not tmderstand
what the firm meant, for he had told their young man
at the time, and as plainly as he could speak, that they
would have to wait for their money ; the young man
had said that they had no fear about that, even if it
were ten times the amount. To which the jeweller he-
sitatingly replied that they certainly had no fear then.
Whereupon Mr. Wellesley Nicholls threw down the
morning paper, and, rising up in his chair^ inquired of
the jeweller what he meant by bis having no fear then^
Did he mean to infer that he had any fear now ?

This made the jeweller stammer as he told Mr.
Nicholls that he didn't exactly wish to be understood in



LIVINa FOR APPEARAKCBS. 87

that light; but that all gentlemen^ the firm were well
aware^ were subject to misfortunes ; and that they had
been deeply grieved to hear of the seizure of Mr.
