You received it ?' 'Quite safely, sir.' 'You should have acknowledged its receipt,' said Mr.Grewgious; 'business being business all the world over.

However, you did not.' 'I meant to have acknowledged it when I first came in this evening, sir.' 'Not a business-like acknowledgment,' returned Mr.Grewgious; 'however, let that pass.

Now, in that document you have observed a few words of kindly allusion to its being left to me to discharge a little trust, confided to me in conversation, at such time as I in my discretion may think best.' 'Yes, sir.' 'Mr.Edwin, it came into my mind just now, when I was looking at the fire, that I could, in my discretion, acquit myself of that trust at no better time than the present.

Favour me with your attention, half a minute.' He took a bunch of keys from his pocket, singled out by the candle-light the key he wanted, and then, with a candle in his hand, went to a bureau or escritoire, unlocked it, touched the spring of a little secret drawer, and took from it an ordinary ring-case made for a single ring.

With this in his hand, he returned to his chair.