noble nature. "A word or two with you, Mr. Marston," said he.

"Sit down, Graspum, sit down," Marston rejoined, ordering Dandy to
give him a chair; which being done he seats himself in front of
Marston, and commences dilating upon his leniency. "You may take me
for an importune feller, in coming this time o'night, but the fact
is I've been-you know my feelings for helpin'
everybody-good-naturedly drawn into a very bad scrape with this
careless young nephew of yourn: he's a dashing devil, and you don't
know it, he is. But I've stood it so long that I was compelled to
make myself sure. This nephew of yourn," said he, turning to
Lorenzo, "thinks my money is made for his gambling propensities, and
if he has used your name improperly, you should have known of it
before." At this Lorenzo's fine open countenance assumed a glow of
indignation, and turning to his uncle, with a nervous tremor, he
said, "Uncle, he has led me into this trouble. You know not the
snares of city life; and were I to tell you him-this monster-yea, I
say monster, for he has drawn me into a snare like one who was
seeking to devour my life-that document, uncle, which he now holds
in his hand saves me from a shame and disgrace which I never could
have withstood before the world."

"Ah! you are just like all gamblers: never consider yourself in the
light of bringing yourself into trouble. Take my advice, young man;
there is a step in a gambler's life to which it is dangerous to
descend, and if you have brought your father and uncle into trouble,
blame neither me nor my money," returned Graspum.

"You do not say that there is forgery connected with this affair, do
you?" inquired Marston, grasping Lorenzo by the arm.