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and hat。
〃Oh； John； don't do this rash thing；〃 cried Mrs。 Denver； laying her
hands upon his sleeve。 〃I have seen so little of you； John。 Only three
years since you left the service。 Don't leave me again。 I know it is
weak of me； but I cannot bear it。〃
〃There's my own brave lass；〃 said he； smoothing down the grey…shot
hair。 〃We've lived in honor together； mother； and please God in honor
we'll die。 No matter how debts are made； they have got to be met； and
what the boy owes we owe。 He has not the money； and how is he to find
it？ He can't find it。 What then？ It becomes my business； and there's
only one way for it。〃
〃But it may not be so very bad； John。 Had we not best wait until after
he sees these people to…morrow？〃
〃They may give him little time； lass。 But I'll have a care that I don't
go so far that I can't put back again。 Now； mother； there's no use holding
me。 It's got to be done； and there's no sense in shirking it。〃 He
detached her fingers from his sleeve； pushed her gently back into an arm…
chair； and hurried from the house。
In less than half an hour the Admiral was whirled into Victoria Station
and found himself amid a dense bustling throng； who jostled and pushed
in the crowded terminus。 His errand； which had seemed feasible enough
in his own room； began now to present difficulties in the carrying out； and
he puzzled over how he should take the first steps。 Amid the stream of
business men； each hurrying on his definite way； the old seaman in his
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grey tweed suit and black soft hat strode slowly along； his head sunk and
his brow wrinkled in perplexity。 Suddenly an idea occurred to him。 He
walked back to the railway stall and bought a daily paper。 This he turned
and turned until a certain column met his eye； when he smoothed it out；
and carrying it over to a seat； proceeded to read it at his leisure。
And； indeed； as a man read that column； it seemed strange to him that
there should still remain any one in this world of ours who should be in
straits for want of money。 Here were whole lines of gentlemen who were
burdened with a surplus in their incomes； and who were loudly calling to
the poor and needy to come and take it off their hands。 Here was the
guileless person who was not a professional moneylender； but who would
be glad to correspond； etc。 Here too was the accommodating individual
who advanced sums from ten to ten thousand pounds without expense；
security； or delay。 〃The money actually paid over within a few hours；〃
ran this fascinating advertisement； conjuring up a vision of swift
messengers rushing with bags of gold to the aid of the poor struggler。 A
third gentleman did all business by personal application； advanced money
on anything or nothing； the lightest and airiest promise was enough to
content him according to his circular； and finally he never asked for more
than five per cent。 This struck the Admiral as far the most promising；
and his wrinkles relaxed； and his frown softened away as he gazed at it。
He folded up the paper rose from the seat； and found himself face to face
with Charles Westmacott。
〃Hullo； Admiral！〃
〃Hullo； Westmacott！〃 Charles had always been a favorite of the
seaman's。 〃What are you doing here？〃
〃Oh； I have been doing a little business for my aunt。 But I have
never seen you in London before。〃
〃I hate the place。 It smothers me。 There's not a breath of clean air
on this side of Greenwich。 But maybe you know your way about pretty
well in the City？〃
〃Well； I know something about it。 You see I've never lived very far
from it； and I do a good deal of my aunt's business。〃
〃Maybe you know Bread Street？〃
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BEYOND THE CITY
〃It is out of Cheapside。〃
〃Well then； how do you steer for it from here？ You make me out a
course and I'll keep to it。〃
〃Why； Admiral； I have nothing to do。 I'll take you there with
pleasure。〃
〃Will you； though？ Well； I'd take it very kindly if you would。 I
have business there。 Smith and Hanbury； financial agents； Bread Street。〃
The pair made their way to the river…side； and so down the Thames to
St。 Paul's landinga mode of travel which was much more to the Admiral's
taste than 'bus or cab。 On the way； he told his companion his mission and
the causes which had led to it。 Charles Westmacott knew little enough of
City life and the ways of business； but at least he had more experience in
both than the Admiral； and he made up his mind not to leave him until the
matter was settled。
〃These are the people；〃 said the Admiral； twisting round his paper； and
pointing to the advertisement which had seemed to him the most
promising。 〃It sounds honest and above…board； does it not？ The
personal interview looks as if there were no trickery； and then no one
could object to five per cent。〃
〃No； it seems fair enough。〃
〃It is not pleasant to have to go hat in hand borrowing money； but there
are times； as you may find before you are my age； Westmacott； when a
man must stow away his pride。 But here's their number； and their plate is
on the corner of the door。〃
A narrow entrance was flanked on either side by a row of brasses；
ranging upwards from the shipbrokers and the solicitors who occupied the
ground floors； through a long succession of West Indian agents； architects；
surveyors； and brokers； to the firm of which they were in quest。 A
winding stone stair； well carpeted and railed at first but growing shabbier
with every landing； brought them past innumerable doors until； at last； just
under the ground…glass roofing； the names of Smith and Hanbury were to
be seen painted in large white letters across a panel； with a laconic
invitation to push beneath it。 Following out the suggestion； the Admiral
and his companion found themselves in a dingy apartment； ill lit from a
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