But innocent Yates never suspected that Stephen's promise to pay promptly at the end of the week was a worthless one.

Yates called for his money at the stipulated time; Stephen sweetened him up and put him off a week.

He called then, according to agreement, and came away sugar-coated again, but suffering under another postponement.

So the thing went on.

Yates haunted Stephen week after week, to no purpose, and at last gave it up.