drew near her residence, his reluctance to face her grew very strong, for he pictured a very unpleasant scene as awaiting him; and he was right. He was kept waiting in the back room, and on the same plea as before-that her landlord was with his sister. He had suspected as much, for a small pony-chaise which stood at the door seemed unaccountably familiar to him. When this was heard to drive off, his sister called to him, and her first question, spoken the moment he entered the room in which she sat, was to know if he had brought the money. He tried to evade this by hurrying on to the more important business, as he deemed it, and wished her to see, with him, how trivial everything else was in comparison; but she chose to harp on the subject most unpleasant to him, and that in the most unpleasant manner. She told him of the contempt in which she held him and all his schemes; how she would assist in none of them; that she should be better off with her little annuity in peace, than with any wealth, if he were to sponge upon her; and much more pleasant discourse. Her husband might have twenty wives, for all she cared, so long as he kept her annuity paid, and Vann might carry his treachery and scheming elsewhere. In addition to all this, there was a something lurking behind, more powerful than the rest, and which restrained her brother from breaking out into violence. Although she did not speak openly of it, yet there were dark allusions to something which made him shrink back, when more than once he had seemed galled beyond endurance. At last, he succeeded in quieting her sufficiently to induce her to listen; but this was only gained by his asserting in the most solemn manner that a certain payment from the firm was postponed for a month, which payment, it is scarcely necessary to say, existed only in his own imagination. He was confident, however, that a crisis was at hand, the results of which would blot out or compensate for the past, and put him thoroughly at ease, long ere that day month. His conference was brief, as when he had told her that she would soon be able to see Mr Perrow, he had told all; and the rest of the interview was spent in the more difficult task of borrowing a sovereign. With great persuasion, he succeeded in doing this, and then left hurriedly, for his sister seemed fast relapsing into the bad temper she had so recently displayed.

A few nights after this he went again to the Dover, and being lucky enough to meet his sporting acquaintance, lost no time-after a few indispensable inquiries respecting the past racing season-in coming to the subject now chiefly in his mind, but with indifferent success. His comrade appeared to be very chary of talking much about this, and answered very briefly, almost ill-temperedly. Still the clerk was not easily to be put off, and he grew more pressing, until at last the man said: 'Look here, old fellow, you and I are very good pals, and you have got as much sharpness in racing matters as any fellow I ever came across. But I don't know anything of your private affairs, and I'll take very good care you don't know much of mine. As for Mr Perrow, I'll tell you this much he came out just before I came home, but where he came to and where I came from, I shan't tell.'

'Well, but I don't want to know anything about your private affairs, my friend,' urged Vann; I wouldn't pry into them for the world. It can't be

letting me into any secret, if you merely say where you met him. If you could only tell me whose ship he went out in, it would perhaps be enough.' It might be too much,' said the stranger curtly; 'it would be too much, because it would be telling you something you want to know, and perhaps will get a lump of money by knowing, while I shan't touch a coin. Besides, you clearly don't mean me to know much about you, and so I don't mean you to know anything about me.'

'Well, come now: if I tell you all about myself,' said Vann, 'will that do?'

'It would certainly go a goodish way,' said the man thoughtfully. Well, who are you?'

'My name is Vann-Frederick Vann. I am clerk at Perrow and Son's, and I live at 31 Parble Street, City Road,' was the reply. Will that satisfy you?'

'It goes a goodish way, as I just said,' returned the man, still more thoughtfully. 'I'll write that down. I suppose you can prove you are the party, because you may be Methuselah, for all I know. But it goes a goodish way, because, as you're clerk to this party, you're very likely to have got hold of some sort of secret about him, that you can't quite prove, and that you think I can. Now, I don't mean to tell you anything to-night'

'What!' ejaculated Vann, 'not to-night?' 'Not to-night,' repeated the stranger, very slowly. It won't hurt; if your secret has kept some years, it can keep a week longer. Now, give me some person's name as a reference-two, in fact, that I may see if their stories agree about you.'

What the devil can it matter?' exclaimed Vann, who was losing his temper at the other's slowness and selfishness.

'Oh, it matters thus far,' said his friend: 'I see you can't very well do without me, and I mean to think it over, and make sure of my man, before I trust him.'

'Confound it, then!' said Vann angrily, 'there is my sister, Mrs-Mrs White, of Orange Street, Greenwich; and Mr Capelmann, baker, at the corner of Parble Street, where I live.'

The stranger took his pipe from his mouth, thrust the tobacco farther into the bowl, replaced the pipe, and began smoking again, without taking his eyes from Vann's face for a moment. 'What names did you say?' he asked at length. Vann repeated them, with his vexation apparent in every syllable; but the other was calm as a statue, and with a precision which jarred on the fretted nerves of the clerk, deliberately wrote down the names and addresses. 'Thank you,' he said; that will do. Now, I will meet you this day week, if all goes well, and we will see if we can't put our horses together. And talking of horses, have you heard that Musketoon has been specially reserved for the steeple-chase this year?" He went on with his new theme, to which Vann could at first barely listen with patience; but soon it had its effect, and he found himself greedily devouring every particular relative to the 'good thing,' and finally parted with his ally on better terms than he could have deemed possible an hour earlier.

But ere the week came round, Vann had obtained nearly all the evidence he wanted without him. It was again a very busy time at Perrow and Son's, and Mr Ambrose was almost constantly at the office. Vann, from his position of confidential clerk, was in his presence a great deal, and had

opportunity to note that his master constantly wore his left-hand glove. This, of course, strengthened his suspicions; but he saw him change his gloves one morning, and saw plainly enough that he had but three fingers upon his left hand. This he noted in his usual stealthy way; but furtive as was his observation, he was discomfited by finding in the glance he could not help stealing at his employer's face, that the latter's eyes were fixed full upon him, and that his discovery was most assuredly known. Only a smile of utter contempt marked Mr Perrow's sense of his clerk's vigilance, but it was enough to make the latter hate him more than he did before an addition quite unnecessary. His self-command was in no way affected, nor was it when, on the next morning, he heard the same gentleman tell his father that he was going to Drury Lane that evening, and that he had taken a box. Vann at once resolved that this was the time for his sister to see her fugitive husband; and as it was an early night for him at the office, he telegraphed to her to meet him at the London Bridge Station. Having done this in his dinnerhour, he went on quietly with his work for the remainder of the day.

He met his sister at the rendezvous; that was in itself a great relief, for he was more than half-afraid that some ill-timed burst of temper might have kept her at home. She came; and although a little sarcastic and insulting in her tone, was as civil as he ever hoped to find her. On their road to the theatre, he told what he had learned, with complete candour too, because he was afraid of her determined efforts to worm everything out, and because he could not see that he should benefit himself by withholding anything. She agreed with him that if she could identify Ambrose Perrow as her husband, that there was no great need of the betting friend's evidence, yet counselled Vann to meet him, as he might know something worthy their hearing: he might prove, for instance, that Mr Perrow was, about the period of his marriage with her, habitually called Malton, and this, of course, it was desirable to establish.

They arrived at the theatre in time to get a seat in the centre of the pit, a post from which they could easily note the occupants of the boxes. It was arranged that Vann should not say whether he saw Mr Perrow in the house or not, to avoid giving anything like a bias to his sister's judgment; but there was no need for any precaution. They had scarcely taken their places before she whispered: "There he is-that tall man just entering the box on our left. Is it your master?'

'Yes,' said Vann.

'Oh, I know him well enough,' continued his sister he has more beard, whiskers, and moustache than he had in our honeymoon, but I know him. And that is his second wife, is it? Lend me the glass, Dick. He has a good eye for beauty. I was counted handsome, you know, and she is so, to a certainty. Proud expression; maybe we shall alter it for her. He is looking full at us, Dick, but with no more consciousness in his face than if he were gazing at so many Dutch herrings, instead of the most dangerous reptiles the world can produce. So that is my husband, and I am Mrs Perrow, am I? I have represented sixty pounds a year of his income for some time past; I wonder how much I shall represent in future. He would get off easier if there was only one of us in

it. He is looking this way again. Aha, spouse! you are looking at the junior partner in the firm of Perrow, Perrow, and Vann. Why, Dick, you start. Don't you suppose a mole could see what you had made up your mind for?'

In this manner she ran on at every opportunity. Her brother would have left the house directly the identity was established; but she, with amazing calmness, determined on hearing the whole of the performance, and evidently enjoyed it, down to the last line of the concluding farce; for although she was gazing into her husband's box, and making comments upon him and his wife in the intervals between the acts, she hardly ever so much as glanced at him while the performance was going on. Vann was heartily glad when all was over, and they just succeeded in catching the last train from London Bridge.

CHAPTER VI.

There was very little now for Vann to wait for: the man was identified, the proofs of the marriage were easily obtained; the evidence was so direct and overwhelming, that there was slight probability of Mr Perrow attempting to confront it. It was time, then, to commence operations. It was wonderful, even to himself, how different a man he felt, now that wealth and position were in his grasp; his very step seemed more assured, and literally, as well as figuratively, he held up his head in consequence of his approaching aggrandisement. While he was making up his mind as to what he should first do, this alteration shewed itself chiefly in a swaggering demeanour, a curt style of reply to his superiors, and an insulting bearing to his equals and inferiors-this last laying him open to the suspicion of strong drink before dinner.

6

After much cogitation, he determined upon taking the bull by the horns, and, as he expressed it, half aloud, with a slight confusion of figure, so getting old Perrow into a carner at once. One slight annoyance was occasioned by his friend at the Dover leaving word with a mutual acquaintance that he should not be able to see him for a fortnight, as he was forced to be out of town; but this, after all, was now of little consequence.

It happened that, as he passed Mr Capelmann's shop on his road home from the sporting rendezvous, he saw the corpulent baker standing at his door smoking, while his assistants closed the estab lishment for the night. How do you do, Mr Vann?' said the baker. 'I was at this moment thinking of you.'

'I am delighted to hear it,' returned Vann, 'and assure you it was mutual. I was thinking of your family, and I always am.'

This was a flowery speech for the silent clerk, but he had had much internal debate as to the propriety of a man in his position entangling himself with a baker's daughter, when he might look so much higher, and had at last decided in favour of Miss Bessy. He was very much in love, for one thing, and this was a very rich baker, for another. The baker stared at him for a few seconds, and then smiled, which Vann thought a good omen; and after drawing a few more whiffs, Mr Capelmann invited the clerk in for the ordinary refresher. As they sat over their grog, the clerk summoned courage to ask where Bessy was, and found she had gone to a concert with Mr Banner. This would, but a very few weeks ago, have silenced

Vann for the evening, but he now said boldly: 'I think, Mr Capelmann, your daughter is throwing herself away-quite away, sir, on such a man.'

I am sorry to hear you say so,' returned the baker, with no trace of anger, however, in his tone; 'I never heard anything against the young fellow.' 'Oh!' ejaculated Vann, with a contemptuous wave of the hand, the man may be well enough in himself, sir; I have nothing to say against him as an individual; but it's the position, sir, the position! There are men, Mr Capelmann, on whom fortune, and as I say, position, are just dawning, who would be happy to lay all at the feet of such a girl as Bessy.'

I am afraid not,' said the baker; 'such persons

are not common.'

'They are to be found, however,' said Vann, rising and buttoning his coat, with the resolute air of a man who has made up his mind to say no more; but I will not intrude any longer, sir. I am not talking at random, Mr Capelmann, and shall be happy to wait upon you shortly-say Friday night-to prove that I am not. May I hope to see you then?'

Oh, certainly, Mr Vann,' said the baker, on whose face was a quiet smile, as if he rather enjoyed Vann's high-flown speech, than otherwise; and so, with an unusually prolonged shake of the hand, the clerk bade farewell to the person whom he regarded as virtually his father-in-law. He made the appointment because he had fully resolved to make an opportunity at once for clearing up all matters with the firm; he felt certain that nothing was to be gained by waiting any longer, and he determined, accordingly, that he would not wait.

He had been undecided at first whether he should speak to the partners together or singly, and if the latter-the plan he felt the more inclined to choose-which he should first approach. But this point fortune decided for him, at the same time that she strung his nerves anew. Mr Ambrose Perrow left the office early in the day, apparelled as though he was going on a journey; but before he left, he brought out a number of papers from the inner office, and told one of the junior clerks to sort and docket them; as the youth advanced to take them, Mr Ambrose changed his mind, and tossed them very unceremoniously to Vann, saying as he did so: 'Oh, you can do them, Vann; you seem to have no better employment than to listen to what is going on.' This might have been true at the moment, but it was not just to Vann, who was really one of the most assiduous clerks in the establishment; and it was a most unfortunate speech, as its contemptuous tone would have supplied an animus, had it been lacking before. Vann smiled as he took the papers; he did not mean to do so, but he could not help it, and he smiled in so odd and unpleasant a manner, that his master opened his lips, as though about to commence an angry speech, but checking himself, turned short round, and left the office.

Vann, in lieu of continuing his work, leaned his chin on his hands, and gazed abstractedly in the direction Mr Ambrose had gone, until the sound of the gong from the private room aroused him. Never mind, Jarvis,' he said to the youth whose duty it was to answer-' never mind; I will go.' So he answered the bell with a very steady step and a very resolute bearing. His chief looked up as he

entered, and did not seem pleased at finding it was not the usual clerk; the frown on his brow was probably owing to his observation of what he considered Vann's eccentric manner of the last few days. 'I did not wish to trouble you, Mr Vann,' said the old gentleman; but as you are here, take these invoices to Mr Powle, and tell him to see if the errors complained of have been corrected. And, if I ring again, send Jarvis in. I do not like my clerks to run in and out just as they please. You can go, Vann,' he added sharply, seeing that his clerk lingered.

'I do not wish to go without ten minutes' conversation with you, Mr Perrow,' returned Vann-'conversation which will be very important, and must be strictly private.'

"Eh?' ejaculated his master, looking inquiringly at him, then added, more sharply still: 'You must see me to-morrow; I am busy.

This was just the cavalier treatment which Vann secretly hoped he might receive: he was a coward, and he knew it, but with the crushing leverage he could wield, he feared not even his master. So he laid aside at once the deferential air proper to a clerk, and said: 'I will thank you, Mr Perrow, to make your convenience suit mine, for once. I have a great deal to say to you, and I mean to say it now; fill your office if you choose, but if you do so, I shall say what I wish, to ears that you would give your life to make stone-deaf.'

The expression of intense astonishment which Mr Perrow had at first worn, as he pushed back his chair to gaze at his clerk more fixedly, changed to one of alarm ere he had finished, and for a few seconds the old gentleman made no reply. At last he said: "You have always been a good servant, Vann, and, I suppose, would not trouble me if you had not something to say which you deemed of importance. It should be very important to justify this language; but I am reluctant to alter my opinion of you, and will therefore hear you.'

Vann laughed; it was only a little laugh, but it was as full of vulgar triumph as the coarsest guffaw that ever came from the lips of a boor. Now, Mr Perrow,' he said, coolly seating himself, and drawing his chair close to the table, 'you were kind enough to compliment me upon my being a good servant. We will drop all allusions to master and servant, if you please, until we see how we really do stand. I am a bad hand at beating about the bush, so we will go to the point at once.' 'I am glad to hear it, sir,' said Mr Perrow, his indignation getting the better of the foreboding which his clerk's manner had inspired; 'the shorter you make this interview, the better I shall be pleased.'

Vann laughed again, but wetted his lips with his tongue, and coughed, as though, after all, he found his task less easy than he had anticipated. 'I-I had a sister,' he began. Mr Perrow at once put down the newspaper he had been feigning to read, and looked steadily at him. Vann went on: 'I had a sister, whose name was Harriet, and we lived together; she kept house for me down in Lancashire. It is a good many years ago now, but she is much the same as she was then a violent, fierce-tempered woman. There was a man who was always hanging about our place; he called himself a gentleman, and- Oh, curse it!' Vann exclaimed viciously, 'I can't shilly-shally like this.

No. 430.

CATS.

WE must go back to the history of that wonderful people, the Egyptians, to find the first mention of cats. They were then so prized that they took a high place among the sacred animals. When a cat died a natural death, people mourned in a regularly appointed manner. The remains were embalmed with costly drugs and spices, so that cat mummies have been preserved in the same way as great monarchs. From some Egyptian paintings, it appears that sportsmen took them out in boats to take water-fowl, as we should use retriever dogs; but Sir J. G. Wilkinson finds it difficult to believe that they would take the water. Cambyses took Pelusis by depending upon the Egyptian veneration for the cat. He gave each soldier a live cat instead of a shield, and the garrison surrendered, rather than injure the animals. It has been supposed that the cat owed its consecration and divine honours among the Egyptians to a peculiar physical attribute, the contractibility and dilatability of the pupil of the eye-exhibiting a mysterious illustration of the moon's changes. This seems to be borne out by the statement of Fosbroke in his Encyclopædia of Antiquities, that the cat was the symbol of the moon, or Isis.

A writer in Notes and Queries (first series, x. 507) says the only language, so far as he can ascertain, in which the word for cat is significant is the Zend, where the word gatu, almost identical with the Spanish gato, means a place-a word particularly expressive in reference to this animal, whose attachment is peculiar to place, and not to person. The inference is that Persia is the original habitat of the cat, where that animal exists in its most perfect state. He thinks it was probably introduced into Europe from Spain, because the Spanish word is almost identical with the Zend. As the Zend, the language of Zoroaster, is a dead one, akin to the Sanscrit, and gave place to the Persian (which dates from the Arabic invasion of the seventh century), the inference is that the cat had been domesticated in Europe prior to that century.

PRICE 1d.

The following quotation from Pennant respecting the old Welsh laws makes it almost certain that cats are not aborigines in these islands: 'Our ancestors seem to have had a high sense of the utility of this animal. That excellent prince, Howel Dda, or Howel the Good, did not think it beneath him, among his laws, &c. relating to the prices of animals (Leges Wallia), to include that of the cat, and to describe the qualities it ought to have. The price of a kitling before it could see was to be a penny; till it caught a mouse, twopence. It was required besides that it should be perfect in its senses of hearing and seeing, have the claws whole, and be a good mouser; but if it failed in any of these qualities, the seller was to forfeit to the buyer the third part of its value. If any one stole or killed the cat that guarded the prince's granary, he was to forfeit a milch ewe, its fleece and lamb; or as much wheat as, when poured on the cat suspended by its tail, the head touching the floor, would form a heap high enough to cover the tip of the former.'

Cats are seldom mentioned in the medieval romances as pets. There was a prejudice against them, probably on account of their supposed connection with witchcraft. Mr Wright, in his Domestic Manners and Sentiments, figures an old lady and her cats from a carving on one of the misereres in Minster Church, Isle of Thanet. It is curious that the English Rule of Nuns of the early part of the thirteenth century forbids the nuns to keep any beast' but a cat. In medieval carvings, we frequently see subjects reversing the usual relations of animals one to another. In old French this was called le monde bestorné, equivalent to, 'the world turned upside down.' On one of the misereres in Great Malvern Church, the writer of this paper observed a carving shewing two rats hanging a cat.

The various names for the cat-French, chat; Italian, gatto; Latin, catus; Arabic, kite kitta; Welsh, cath; Persian, chat-are derived probably from the sound made by the animal when spitting. Gibbe, or Gib, applied to the male cat, is a contraction for Gilbert, as that name was formerly applied