English
WhenDoctorWalkerhaddeparted,theAdmiralpackedallhispossessionsbackintohisseachestwiththeexceptionofonelittlebrass-bounddesk.
Thisheunlocked,andtookfromitadozenorsobluesheetsofpaperallmottledoverwithstampsandseals,withverylargeV.R.’sprintedupontheheadsofthem.
Hetiedthesecarefullyintoasmallbundle,andplacingthemintheinnerpocketofhiscoat,heseizedhisstickandhat.
“Oh,John,don’tdothisrashthing,”criedMrs.Denver,layingherhandsuponhissleeve.“Ihaveseensolittleofyou,John.
Onlythreeyearssinceyoulefttheservice.Don’tleavemeagain.
Iknowitisweakofme,butIcannotbearit.”
“There’smyownbravelass,”saidhe,smoothingdownthegrey-shothair.
“We’velivedinhonortogether,mother,andpleaseGodinhonorwe’lldie.
Nomatterhowdebtsaremade,theyhavegottobemet,andwhattheboyowesweowe.
Hehasnotthemoney,andhowishetofindit?Hecan’tfindit.Whatthen?
Itbecomesmybusiness,andthere’sonlyonewayforit.”
“Butitmaynotbesoverybad,John.Hadwenotbestwaituntilafterheseesthesepeopleto-morrow?”
“Theymaygivehimlittletime,lass.ButI’llhaveacarethatIdon’tgosofarthatIcan’tputbackagain.Now,mother,there’snouseholdingme.
It’sgottobedone,andthere’snosenseinshirkingit.”
Hedetachedherfingersfromhissleeve,pushedhergentlybackintoanarm-chair,andhurriedfromthehouse.
InlessthanhalfanhourtheAdmiralwaswhirledintoVictoriaStationandfoundhimselfamidadensebustlingthrong,whojostledandpushedinthecrowdedterminus.
Hiserrand,whichhadseemedfeasibleenoughinhisownroom,begannowtopresentdifficultiesinthecarryingout,andhepuzzledoverhowheshouldtakethefirststeps.
Amidthestreamofbusinessmen,eachhurryingonhisdefiniteway,theoldseamaninhisgreytweedsuitandblacksofthatstrodeslowlyalong,hisheadsunkandhisbrowwrinkledinperplexity.Suddenlyanideaoccurredtohim.
Hewalkedbacktotherailwaystallandboughtadailypaper.
Thisheturnedandturneduntilacertaincolumnmethiseye,whenhesmootheditout,andcarryingitovertoaseat,proceededtoreaditathisleisure.
And,indeed,asamanreadthatcolumn,itseemedstrangetohimthatthereshouldstillremainanyoneinthisworldofourswhoshouldbeinstraitsforwantofmoney.
Herewerewholelinesofgentlemenwhowereburdenedwithasurplusintheirincomes,andwhowereloudlycallingtothepoorandneedytocomeandtakeitofftheirhands.
Herewastheguilelesspersonwhowasnotaprofessionalmoneylender,butwhowouldbegladtocorrespond,etc.
Heretoowastheaccommodatingindividualwhoadvancedsumsfromtentotenthousandpoundswithoutexpense,security,ordelay.
“Themoneyactuallypaidoverwithinafewhours,”ranthisfascinatingadvertisement,conjuringupavisionofswiftmessengersrushingwithbagsofgoldtotheaidofthepoorstruggler.
Athirdgentlemandidallbusinessbypersonalapplication,advancedmoneyonanythingornothing;thelightestandairiestpromisewasenoughtocontenthimaccordingtohiscircular,andfinallyheneveraskedformorethanfivepercent.
ThisstrucktheAdmiralasfarthemostpromising,andhiswrinklesrelaxed,andhisfrownsoftenedawayashegazedatit.
Hefoldedupthepaperrosefromtheseat,andfoundhimselffacetofacewithCharlesWestmacott.
“Hullo,Admiral!”
“Hullo,Westmacott!”Charleshadalwaysbeenafavoriteoftheseaman’s.“Whatareyoudoinghere?”
“Oh,Ihavebeendoingalittlebusinessformyaunt.ButIhaveneverseenyouinLondonbefore.”
“Ihatetheplace.Itsmothersme.There’snotabreathofcleanaironthissideofGreenwich.ButmaybeyouknowyourwayaboutprettywellintheCity?”
“Well,Iknowsomethingaboutit.YouseeI’veneverlivedveryfarfromit,andIdoagooddealofmyaunt’sbusiness.”
“MaybeyouknowBreadStreet?”
“ItisoutofCheapside.”
“Wellthen,howdoyousteerforitfromhere?YoumakemeoutacourseandI’llkeeptoit.”
“Why,Admiral,Ihavenothingtodo.I’lltakeyoutherewithpleasure.”
“Willyou,though?Well,I’dtakeitverykindlyifyouwould.Ihavebusinessthere.SmithandHanbury,financialagents,BreadStreet.”
Thepairmadetheirwaytotheriver-side,andsodowntheThamestoSt.Paul’slanding—amodeoftravelwhichwasmuchmoretotheAdmiral’stastethan‘busorcab.
Ontheway,hetoldhiscompanionhismissionandthecauseswhichhadledtoit.
CharlesWestmacottknewlittleenoughofCitylifeandthewaysofbusiness,butatleasthehadmoreexperienceinboththantheAdmiral,andhemadeuphismindnottoleavehimuntilthematterwassettled.
“Thesearethepeople,”saidtheAdmiral,twistingroundhispaper,andpointingtotheadvertisementwhichhadseemedtohimthemostpromising.
“Itsoundshonestandabove-board,doesitnot?
Thepersonalinterviewlooksasiftherewerenotrickery,andthennoonecouldobjecttofivepercent.”
“No,itseemsfairenough.”
“Itisnotpleasanttohavetogohatinhandborrowingmoney,buttherearetimes,asyoumayfindbeforeyouaremyage,Westmacott,whenamanmuststowawayhispride.
Buthere’stheirnumber,andtheirplateisonthecornerofthedoor.”
Anarrowentrancewasflankedoneithersidebyarowofbrasses,rangingupwardsfromtheshipbrokersandthesolicitorswhooccupiedthegroundfloors,throughalongsuccessionofWestIndianagents,architects,surveyors,andbrokers,tothefirmofwhichtheywereinquest.
Awindingstonestair,wellcarpetedandrailedatfirstbutgrowingshabbierwitheverylanding,broughtthempastinnumerabledoorsuntil,atlast,justundertheground-glassroofing,thenamesofSmithandHanburyweretobeseenpaintedinlargewhitelettersacrossapanel,withalaconicinvitationtopushbeneathit.
Followingoutthesuggestion,theAdmiralandhiscompanionfoundthemselvesinadingyapartment,illlitfromacoupleofglazedwindows.
Anink-stainedtable,litteredwithpens,papers,andalmanacs,anAmericanclothsofa,threechairsofvaryingpatterns,andamuch-worncarpet,constitutedallthefurniture,saveonlyaverylargeandobtrusiveporcelainspittoon,andagaudilyframedandverysomberpicturewhichhungabovethefireplace.
Sittinginfrontofthispicture,andstaringgloomilyatit,asbeingtheonlythingwhichhecouldstareat,wasasmallsallow-facedboywithalargehead,whointheintervalsofhisartstudiesmunchedsedatelyatanapple.
“IsMr.SmithorMr.Hanburyin?”askedtheAdmiral.
“Thereain’tnosuchpeople,”saidthesmallboy.
“Butyouhavethenamesonthedoor.”
“Ah,thatisthenameofthefirm,yousee.It’sonlyaname.It’sMr.ReubenMetaxathatyouwants.”
“Wellthen,ishein?”
“No,he’snot.”
“Whenwillhebeback?”
“Can’ttell,I’msure.He’sgonetolunch.Sometimeshetakesonehour,andsometimestwo.It’llbetwoto-day,I‘spect,forhesaidhewashungryaforehewent.”
“ThenIsupposethatwehadbettercallagain,”saidtheAdmiral.
“Notabit,”criedCharles.“Iknowhowtomanagetheselittleimps.
Seehere,youyoungvarmint,here’sashillingforyou.Runoffandfetchyourmaster.
Ifyoudon’tbringhimhereinfiveminutesI’llclumpyouonthesideoftheheadwhenyougetback.Shoo!Scat!”
Hechargedattheyouth,whoboltedfromtheroomandclatteredmadlydown-stairs.
“He’llfetchhim,”saidCharles.“Letusmakeourselvesathome.
Thissofadoesnotfeeloverandabovesafe.
Itwasnotmeantforfifteen-stonemen.
Butthisdoesn’tlookquitethesortofplacewhereonewouldexpecttopickupmoney.”
“JustwhatIwasthinking,”saidtheAdmiral,lookingruefullyabouthim.
“Ah,well!Ihaveheardthatthebestfurnishedofficesgenerallybelongtothepoorestfirms.Letushopeit’stheoppositehere.
Theycan’tspendmuchonthemanagementanyhow.
Thatpumpkin-headedboywasthestaff,Isuppose.
Ha,byJove,that’shisvoice,andhe’sgotourman,Ithink!”
Ashespoketheyouthappearedinthedoorwaywithasmall,brown,dried-uplittlechipofamanathisheels.
Hewasclean-shavenandblue-chinned,withbristlingblackhair,andkeenbrowneyeswhichshoneoutverybrightlyfrombetweenpouchedunder-lidsanddroopingupperones.
Headvanced,glancingkeenlyfromonetotheotherofhisvisitors,andslowlyrubbingtogetherhisthin,blue-veinedhands.
Thesmallboyclosedthedoorbehindhim,anddiscreetlyvanished.
apictureofthecountryside
“IamMr.ReubenMetaxa,”saidthemoneylender.“Wasitaboutanadvanceyouwishedtoseeme?”
“Yes.”
“Foryou,Ipresume?”turningtoCharlesWestmacott.
“No,forthisgentleman.”
Themoneylenderlookedsurprised.“Howmuchdidyoudesire?”
“Ithoughtoffivethousandpounds,”saidtheAdmiral.
“Andonwhatsecurity?”
“IamaretiredadmiraloftheBritishnavy.YouwillfindmynameintheNavyList.Thereismycard.Ihaveheremypensionpapers.IgetL850ayear.
IthoughtthatperhapsifyouweretoholdthesepapersitwouldbesecurityenoughthatIshouldpayyou.
Youcoulddrawmypension,andrepayyourselvesattherate,say,ofL500ayear,takingyourfivepercentinterestaswell.”
“Whatinterest?”
“Fivepercentperannum.”
Mr.Metaxalaughed.“Perannum!”hesaid.“Fivepercentamonth.”
“Amonth!Thatwouldbesixtypercentayear.”
“Precisely.”
“Butthatismonstrous.”
“Idon’taskgentlementocometome.Theycomeoftheirownfreewill.Thosearemyterms,andtheycantakeitorleaveit.”
“ThenIshallleaveit.”TheAdmiralroseangrilyfromhischair.
“Butonemoment,sir.Justsitdownandweshallchatthematterover.
Yoursisaratherunusualcaseandwemayfindsomeotherwayofdoingwhatyouwish.
Ofcoursethesecuritywhichyouofferisnosecurityatall,andnosanemanwouldadvancefivethousandpenniesonit.”
“Nosecurity?Whynot,sir?”
“Youmightdieto-morrow.Youarenotayoungman.Whatageareyou?”
“Sixty-three.”
Mr.Metaxaturnedoveralongcolumnoffigures.“Hereisanactuary’stable,”saidhe.“Atyourtimeoflifetheaverageexpectancyoflifeisonlyafewyearseveninawell-preservedman.”
“DoyoumeantoinsinuatethatIamnotawell-preservedman?”
“Well,Admiral,itisatryinglifeatsea.
Sailorsintheiryoungerdaysaregaydogs,andtakeitoutofthemselves.
Thenwhentheygrowoldertheyarestillhardatit,andhavenochanceofrestorpeace.
Idonotthinkasailor’slifeagoodone.”
“I’lltellyouwhat,sir,”saidtheAdmiralhotly.
“IfyouhavetwopairsofglovesI’llundertaketoknockyououtunderthreerounds.
OrI’llraceyoufromheretoSt.Paul’s,andmyfriendherewillseefair.
I’llletyouseewhetherIamanoldmanornot.”
“Thisisbesidethequestion,”saidthemoneylenderwithadeprecatoryshrug.“Thepointisthatifyoudiedto-morrowwherewouldbethesecuritythen?”
“Icouldinsuremylife,andmakethepolicyovertoyou.”
“Yourpremiumsforsuchasum,ifanyofficewouldhaveyou,whichIverymuchdoubt,wouldcometocloseonfivehundredayear.Thatwouldhardlysuityourbook.”
“Well,sir,whatdoyouintendtopropose?”askedtheAdmiral.
“Imight,toaccommodateyou,workitinanotherway.Ishouldsendforamedicalman,andhaveanopinionuponyourlife.ThenImightseewhatcouldbedone.”
“Thatisquitefair.Ihavenoobjectiontothat.”
“Thereisaverycleverdoctorinthestreethere.Proudieishisname.John,goandfetchDoctorProudie.”
Theyouthwasdispatcheduponhiserrand,whileMr.Metaxasatathisdesk,trimminghisnails,andshootingoutlittlecommentsupontheweather.
Presentlyfeetwerehearduponthestairs,themoneylenderhurriedout,therewasasoundofwhispering,andhereturnedwithalarge,fat,greasy-lookingman,cladinamuchwornfrock-coat,andaverydilapidatedtophat.
“DoctorProudie,gentlemen,”saidMr.Metaxa.
Thedoctorbowed,smiled,whippedoffhishat,andproducedhisstethoscopefromitsinteriorwiththeairofaconjureruponthestage.
“WhichofthesegentlemenamItoexamine?”
heasked,blinkingfromonetotheotherofthem.“Ah,itisyou!Onlyyourwaistcoat!Youneednotundoyourcollar.Thankyou!Afullbreath!Thankyou!Ninety-nine!Thankyou!Nowholdyourbreathforamoment.Oh,dear,dear,whatisthisIhear?”
“Whatisitthen?”askedtheAdmiralcoolly.
“Tut!tut!Thisisagreatpity.Haveyouhadrheumaticfever?”
“Never.”
“Youhavehadsomeseriousillness?”
“Never.”
“Ah,youareanadmiral.Youhavebeenabroad,tropics,malaria,ague—Iknow.”
“Ihaveneverhadaday’sillness.”
“Nottoyourknowledge;butyouhaveinhaledunhealthyair,andithasleftitseffect.Youhaveanorganicmurmur—slightbutdistinct.”
“Isitdangerous?”
“Itmightatanytimebecomeso.Youshouldnottakeviolentexercise.”
“Oh,indeed.Itwouldhurtmetorunahalfmile?”
“Itwouldbeverydangerous.”
“Andamile?”
“Wouldbealmostcertainlyfatal.”
“Thenthereisnothingelsethematter?”
“No.Butiftheheartisweak,theneverythingisweak,andthelifeisnotasoundone.”
“Yousee,Admiral,”remarkedMr.Metaxa,asthedoctorsecretedhisstethoscopeoncemoreinhishat,“myremarkswerenotentirelyuncalledfor.
Iamsorrythatthedoctor’sopinionisnotmorefavorable,butthisisamatterofbusiness,andcertainobviousprecautionsmustbetaken.”
“Ofcourse.Thenthematterisatanend.”
“Well,wemightevennowdobusiness.Iammostanxioustobeofusetoyou.Howlongdoyouthink,doctor,thatthisgentlemanwillinallprobabilitylive?”
“Well,well,it’sratheradelicatequestiontoanswer,”saidDr.Proudie,withashowofembarrassment.
“Notabit,sir.Outwithit!Ihavefaceddeathtoooftentoflinchfromitnow,thoughIsawitasnearmeasyouare.”
“Well,well,wemustgobyaveragesofcourse.Shallwesaytwoyears?Ishouldthinkthatyouhaveafulltwoyearsbeforeyou.”
“IntwoyearsyourpensionwouldbringyouinL1,600.
NowIwilldomyverybestforyou,Admiral!
IwilladvanceyouL2,000,andyoucanmakeovertomeyourpensionforyourlife.Itispurespeculationonmypart.Ifyoudieto-morrowIlosemymoney.
Ifthedoctor’sprophecyiscorrectIshallstillbeoutofpocket.
Ifyoulivealittlelonger,thenImayseemymoneyagain.ItistheverybestIcandoforyou.”
“Thenyouwishtobuymypension?”
“Yes,fortwothousanddown.”
“AndifIlivefortwentyyears?”
“Oh,inthatcaseofcoursemyspeculationwouldbemoresuccessful.Butyouhaveheardthedoctor’sopinion.”
“Wouldyouadvancethemoneyinstantly?”
“Youshouldhaveathousandatonce.TheotherthousandIshouldexpectyoutotakeinfurniture.”
“Infurniture?”
“Yes,Admiral.Weshalldoyouabeautifulhousefulatthatsum.Itisthecustomofmyclientstotakehalfinfurniture.”
TheAdmiralsatindireperplexity.Hehadcomeouttogetmoney,andtogobackwithoutany,tobepowerlesstohelpwhenhisboyneededeveryshillingtosavehimfromdisaster,thatwouldbeverybittertohim.
Ontheotherhand,itwassomuchthathesurrendered,andsolittlethathereceived.Little,andyetsomething.
Woulditnotbebetterthangoingbackempty-handed?
Hesawtheyellowbackedchequebookuponthetable.
Themoneylenderopeneditanddippedhispenintotheink.
“ShallIfillitup?”saidhe.
“Ithink,Admiral,”remarkedWestmacott,“thatwehadbetterhavealittlewalkandsomeluncheonbeforewesettlethismatter.”
“Oh,wemayaswelldoitatonce.Itwouldbeabsurdtopostponeitnow,”Metaxaspokewithsomeheat,andhiseyesglintedangrilyfrombetweenhisnarrowlidsattheimperturbableCharles.
TheAdmiralwassimpleinmoneymatters,buthehadseenmuchofmenandhadlearnedtoreadthem.
Hesawthatvenomousglance,andsawtoothatintenseeagernesswaspeepingoutfrombeneaththecarelessairwhichtheagenthadassumed.
“You’requiteright,Westmacott,”saidhe.“We’llhavealittlewalkbeforewesettleit.”
“ButImaynotbeherethisafternoon.”
“Thenwemustchooseanotherday.”
“Butwhynotsettleitnow?”
“BecauseIprefernot,”saidtheAdmiralshortly.
“Verywell.Butrememberthatmyofferisonlyforto-day.Itisoffunlessyoutakeitatonce.”
“Letitbeoff,then.
“There’smyfee,”criedthedoctor.
“Howmuch?”
“Aguinea.”
TheAdmiralthrewapoundandashillinguponthetable.“Come,Westmacott,”saidhe,andtheywalkedtogetherfromtheroom.
“Idon’tlikeit,”saidCharles,whentheyfoundthemselvesinthestreetoncemore;“Idon’tprofesstobeaverysharpchap,butthisisatrifletoothin.
Whatdidhewanttogooutandspeaktothedoctorfor?
Andhowveryconvenientthistaleofaweakheartwas!
Ibelievetheyareacoupleofrogues,andinleaguewitheachother.”
“Asharkandapilotfish,”saidtheAdmiral.
“I’lltellyouwhatIpropose,sir.There’salawyernamedMcAdamwhodoesmyaunt’sbusiness.
Heisaveryhonestfellow,andlivesattheothersideofPoultry.
We’llgoovertohimtogetherandhavehisopinionaboutthewholematter.”
“Howfarisittohisplace?”
“Oh,amileatleast.Wecanhaveacab.”
“Amile?Thenweshallseeifthereisanytruthinwhatthatswabofadoctorsaid.Come,myboy,andclaponallsail,andseewhocanstaythelongest.”
ThenthesoberdenizensoftheheartofbusinessLondonsawasingularsightastheyreturnedfromtheirluncheons.
Downtheroadway,dodgingamongcabsandcarts,ranaweather-stainedelderlyman,withwideflappingblackhat,andhomelysuitoftweeds.
Withelbowsbracedback,handsclenchednearhisarmpits,andchestprotruded,hescuddedalong,whilecloseathisheelslumberedalarge-limbed,heavy,yellowmustachedyoungman,whoseemedtofeeltheexerciseagooddealmorethanhissenior.
Ontheydashed,helter-skelter,untiltheypulleduppantingattheofficewherethelawyeroftheWestmacottswastobefound.
“Therenow!”criedtheAdmiralintriumph.“Whatd’yethinkofthat?Nothingwrongintheengine-room,eh?”
“Youseemfitenough,sir.
“BlessedifIbelievetheswabwasacertificateddoctoratall.Hewasflyingfalsecolors,orIammistaken.”
“Theykeepthedirectoriesandregistersinthiseating-house,”saidWestmacott.“We’llgoandlookhimout.”
Theydidso,butthemedicalrollscontainednosuchnameasthatofDr.Proudie,ofBreadStreet.
“Prettyvillainythis!”criedtheAdmiral,thumpinghischest.“Adummydoctorandavampedupdisease.Well,we’vetriedtherogues,Westmacott!Letusseewhatwecandowithyourhonestman.”
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