"Nor, on the other hand," pursued Mr. Simnel, relentlessly, "am I over head and ears in debt, pressed by Jews, horribly impecunious, and--"
"Leave me alone, Simnel, can't you? I know all this; and as you must be perfectly certain, I've turned this Schröder affair over in my mind a hundred times already."
"And what have you decided?"
"To go in for it at all hazards."
"I think you're right," said Simnel quietly; "it seems to me your last chance; and though it's not strictly a very nice business, there are hundreds of men holding their heads up before the world, which very much esteems them, who have made their money in far worse transactions. You'll require an immense amount of patience and tact."
"The former undoubtedly. Prater said he might go at any moment if--what was it?--any thing excited or annoyed him. Question is what does excite a fellow of that sort--Muscovadoes being high, or gray-shirtings scarce, or pig-iron in demand, or some of those things one sees in the paper--banks breaking or stocks falling, eh? As for the tact, I don't think that will be required now."
"How do you mean--now?"
"Because it's all squared already," said Beresford complacently. "I've only to go in and win whenever I like I imagine. To tell the truth--though a man doesn't talk of these things, of course--I've being fighting shy of it lately, rather than pressing it on."
"Yes, yes, of course," said Simnel impatiently; "I know all about that; but don't you see that the greatest tact will be required because your plan of operations must be entirely changed? You have been carrying on a very animated flirtation within certain limits; but now you are going in for a totally different thing. You are going in--sit down, and let us talk this over quietly, it's rather important: I know you've great experience in such matters; but just listen to my humble advice, it may be worth hearing,--you are going in to make sure of marrying a woman after her husband's death; an event likely to occur at any time. To insure success there are two ways--one by compromising her--"
"By Jove, Simnel!" exclaimed Beresford through his shut teeth.