forty-eight  pounds  some  odd  shillings.  There  are  the  bills.  The  sums
due  for  interest  and  commission  are  noted  down,  and  will,  I  believe,  be
found  duly  correct."

"Three  thousand  seven  hundred  pounds  in  less  than  five  years!'*
ejaculated  Tiernay.     "  What  iniquity !"

"  If  your  expression  is  intended  to  apply  to  anything  in  the  conduct
of  this  transaction,  Sir,"  said  Hoare,  growing  pale  with  passion  as  he
spoke,  ''  I  beg  you  to  remember  that  there  is  such  a  thing  in  the  land
as  redress  for  libel."

"  If  the  laws  will  warrant  sixty  per  cent.,  they  may  well  punish  the
man  who  calls  it  infamy,"  said  Tiernay,  almost  choking  with  anger."

"  That  will  do,  gentlemen,  that  will  do,"  said  Hoare,  replacing  the
bills  in  the  pocket-book,  while  his  fingers  trembled  with  passion.  "  I
was  not  aware  that  your  object  in  this  meeting  was  to  insult  me.  Fll
not  expose  myself  a  second  time  to  such  a  casualty.  I'll  thank  you  to
hand  me  that  bill,  Sir  ?"  This  request  was  addressed  to  Cashel,  who,
with  his  eyes  ri vetted  on  a  document  which  he  held  in  both  hands,  sat
perfectly  unmindful  of  all  around  him.
"  If  you  will  have  the  kindness  to  give  me  that  bill,  Sir  ?"  said  Hoare,
again.
"  Shylock  wants  his  bond,"  said  Tiernay,  who  walked  up  and  down
the  room  with  clenched  hands,  and  brows  knitted  into  one  deep  furrow.
Hoare  turned  a  scowling  glance  towards  him,  but  not  trusting  him-
self to  reply,  merely  repeated  his  question  to  Cashel.
"  How  came  you  by  this  ?"  cried  Roland,  rising  from  the  table,  and
holding  out  a  written  paper  towards  Hoare.
