be satisfactory? The candour of his manner
disarming suspicion, Mr. Royston was prevailed
upon to part with his goods on those terms. In
two months' time he discovered himself to be a
victim of the " Long" firm, without hope of
redress. It is worse than useless to sue a man on
a bill who has got nothing; while, as no "false
pretences" had been made, he was not amenable
to criminal law, for Mr. Walter Long really did
live at Longsight, Manchester, and had a
"place" there, comprising two rooms, and about
half-a-crown's worth of furniture.

A month after this bill had been
dishonoured, the same gentleman, in the same dog-
cart (hired from the neighbouring town),
presented himself once more at Mr. Royston's
place of business. Mr. Royston could hardly
believe his eyes; called him a thief and a
swindler, and ordered him off his grounds.

"All you say may be correct," Mr. Long
owned, very calmly. " I am a swindler, and I
don't deny it. I am a member of the ' Long'
Firm, but our rule is never to swindle the same
man twice. I am come to make, as far as
lies in my power, reparation for the loss I
caused you. You remember those shrubs you
sent me? I sold them pretty well, I am
pleased to tell you. (Don't be angry, but
listen.) They gave such satisfaction, that I now
have an order to supply another lot at a much
better figure, and I thought I couldn't do better
than come and make an honest deal with you
for them."

"And you think me fool enough to be gulled
a second time?" said Mr. Royston.

"Nothing of the kind, my dear sir; I bring
the money with me" (he produced a bundle
of notes), "and I do not wish you to part
with your goods till they are paid for. I
am sure you are too good a man of business
to allow any sore feeling at being 'done'
before, to interfere with an opportunity of turning
money now. Besides, we do business honestly
at times. I have a bonâ fide commission to
buy these trees, and out of my profit I will
certainly pay you something off the acceptance."

Mr. Royston not seeing how he could lose
money on such terms, was finally persuaded to
deal. Shrubs were selected to the same amount
as before—fifty pounds—packed in his waggon,
and started into town; the arrangement being
that Mr. Long should drive Mr. Royston to
his hotel, where he would pay the account.

Having directed his man not to deliver the
goods at the railway station, but to wait with
them outside the hotel for orders (a precaution
which Mr. Long assented to as quite justified),
Mr. Royston mounted the dog-cart, and was
driven in town to the hotel by his customer.
Arrived there, Mr. Long called for brandy-and-
water, cigars, and writing materials; paid his
hotel bill, somewhat ostentatiously displaying
his gold and notes; and requested Mr. Royston
to write him out a receipt for the amount of his
account.

This done, Mr. Long began to count out the
money in payment; but stopped in the middle
of his occupation, as if struck by a sudden,
thought.

"This won't do," he said, thoughtfully. "I
have not been a swindler for nothing. If I
pay you this money now, you will pocket it for
your acceptance, and then go and tell your man
to drive back to your place again with the
shrubs, so that I shall be swindled this time."

Mr. Royston disclaimed any idea of the kind.

"No doubt, my dear sir, no doubt; but a
man in my position can't afford to place
himself in any one's hands. Now, you see that I
have the money to pay, and I know that you
have the receipt in your pocket. Tell your
man to deliver the goods at the railway station
(goods department), when I will give you the
notes, and you can hand me the receipt. That's
fair to you, and secures me."

Not seeing any hitch, and knowing that
Long had the money, Mr. Royston acceded to
this proposition, though not without
considerable hesitation. Accordingly, the goods were
consigned at the railway station to a
Manchester firm by Long's direction. Mr. Royston
asked for his money.

"Shake hands with me, my dear sir," said
Long; "you are the best friend I ever met."

"What do you mean?"

"This. My train starts in ten minutes; you
can send in your account when you please, or
you can draw on me at two months if you
prefer—or book it, you know."

Royston fetched a policeman; but when
Mr. Long explained that it was a mere matter
of debt to be recovered by the usual process, the
constable regretted he could do nothing.

"However," thought Mr. Royston, "I can at
least stop my goods." But, on going to the
traffic manager, he learnt that goods once
consigned to any person could not be reclaimed,
any more than a letter dropped into the post:
the company being tied by law to deliver them
only to the address given.

Mr. Royston took the next train to
Manchester, and there communicated with the police,
but without effect; for the shrubs were consigned
to a most respectable auctioneer, who had no
course but to sell them as ordered, and he had
handed over the money they realised, to Long
before a writ for the amount could be issued
against him. Then he was gone. The sheriff's
offices told Mr. Royston, " It's no good suing
them Longs, sir; there's always writs out for
'em, but they've got nothing to take."

And now for my own case. I am a
provincial coachmaker, with a large export trade.
In September, 1861, a well but not over-dressed
man, about thirty, of Hebrew descent, and of
very gentlemanly address, entered my office, and
presented this card:

               Messrs. JONDERMAIN and Co.,
                                          Shippers,
                                                   Gracechurch-street,
                                                                          London.

The time of day was afternoon, two hours
before banks closed.

"You are acquainted with my firm, I believe,