The men there assembled all crowded to look at the list, and among others Mr. Juniper.  He showed his anxiety by the eager way in which he nearly annihilated Messrs. Evans & Crooke, by leaning over him as he struggled to read the paper.  “Your name ain’t down at all,” said Evans & Crooke.  Then a tremendous oath, very bitter and very wicked, came from the mouth of Mr. Juniper, most unbefitting a young man engaged to marry a young lady.  “I tell you it isn’t here,” said Evans & Crooke, trying to extricate himself.

“I shall know how to right myself,” said Juniper, with another oath.  And he then walked out of the room.

“The captain, when he was drunk one night, got a couple of ponies from him.  It wasn’t a couple all out.  And Juniper made him write his name for five hundred pounds.  It was thought then that the squire ’d have been dead next day, and Juniper ’d ‘ve got a good thing."’

“I ’ate them ways,” said Mr. Hart.  “I never deal with a shentleman if he’s, to say—­drunk.  Of course it comes in my way, but I never does.”

Now there was heard a sound of steps on the stairs, and Mr. Tyrrwhit rose from his chair so as to perform the duty of master of the ceremonies to the gentlemen who were expected.  Augustus Scarborough entered the room, followed by Mr. Barry.  They were received with considerable respect, and seated on two chairs at Mr. Tyrrwhit’s right hand.  “Gentlemen, you most of you know these two gentlemen.  They are Mr. Augustus Scarborough and Mr. Barry, junior partner in the firm of Messrs. Grey & Barry.”

“We knows ’em,” said Hart.

“My client has made a proposition to you,” said Mr. Barry.  “If you will give up your bonds against his brother, which are not worth the paper they are written on—­”

“Gammon!” said Mr. Hart.

“I will sign checks paying to you the sums of money written on that list.  But you must all agree to accept such sums in liquidation in full.  I see you have not signed the paper yet.  No time is to be lost.  In fact, you must sign it now, or my client will withdraw from his offer.”

“Withdraw; will ’e?” said Hart.  “Suppose we withdraw?  ’O does your client think is the honestest man in this ’ere swim?”

Mr. Barry seemed somewhat abashed by this question.  “It isn’t necessary to go into that, Mr. Hart,” said he.

Mr. Hart laughed long and loud, and all the gentlemen laughed.  There was something to them extremely jocose in their occupying, as it were, the other side of the question, and appearing as the honest, injured party.  They enjoyed it thoroughly, and Mr. Hart was disposed to make the most of it.  “No; it ain’t necessary; is it?  There ain’t no question of honesty to be asked in this ’ere business.  We quite understand that.”

Then up and spoke Augustus Scarborough.  He rose to his feet, and the very fact of his doing so quieted for a time the exuberant mirth of the party.  “Gentlemen, Mr. Hart speaks to you of honesty.  I am not going to boast of my own.  I am here to consent to the expenditure of a very large sum of money, for which I am to get nothing, and which, if not paid to you, will all go into my own pocket;—­unless you believed that you wouldn’t be here to meet me.”