improvident vicar, bore interest, I am almost ashamed to say, at thirty
per cent. per annum, and ten per cent. more the first year. But you are
to remember that the security was altogether speculative; and Mr. Larkin,
of course, made the best terms he could.

Annual premium on a policy for L100 [double insurance } L _s._ _d._
being insisted upon by lender, to cover contingent ex- } 10 0 0
penses, and life not insurable, a delicacy of the lungs }
being admitted, on the ordinary scale] }

Annuity payable to lender, clear of premium, the } 7 10 0
security being unsatisfactory }
--------------
L17 10 0

Ten pounds of which (the premium), together with four pounds ten
shillings for expenses, &c. were payable in advance. So that thirty-two
pounds, out of his borrowed fifty, were forfeit for these items within a
year and a month. In the meantime the fifty pounds had gone, as we know,
direct to Cambridge; and he was called upon to pay forthwith ten pounds
for premium, and four pounds ten shillings for 'expenses.' _Quod
impossibile._

The attorney had nothing for it but to try to induce the lender to let
him have another fifty pounds, pending the investigation of
title--another fifty, of which he was to get, in fact, eighteen pounds.
Somehow, the racking off of this bitter vintage from one vessel into
another did not seem to improve its quality. On the contrary, things were
growing decidedly more awful.