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gold we went in together and passed through to a compartment of retiring
seclusion。
In our own land； O my orthodox…minded father； where the unfailing
resources of innumerable bands of dragons； spirits； vampires； ghouls；
shadows； omens； and thunderstorms are daily enlisted to carry into effect
the pronouncements of an appointed destiny； we have many historical
examples of the inexorably converging legs of coincidence； but none； I
think； more impressively arranged than the one now descending this
person's brush。
We had scarcely reposed ourselves； and taken from the hands of an
awaiting slave the vessels of thrice…potent liquid which in this Island is
regarded as the indispensable accompaniment to every movement of
existence； when a third person entered the room； and seating himself at a
table some slightly removed distance away； lowered his head and
abandoned himself to a display of most lavish dejection。
〃That poor cuss doesn't appear to be holiday…making；〃 remarked the
sincerely…compassionate person at my side； after closely observing the
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other for a period； and then； moved by the overpowering munificence of
his inward nature； he called aloud； 〃Say； stranger； you seem to have got it
thickly in the neck。 Is it family affliction or the whisky of the
establishment？〃
At these affably…intentioned words the stranger raised his eyes quickly；
with an indication of not having up to that time been aware of our
presence。
〃Sir；〃 he exclaimed； approaching to a spot where he could converse
with a more enhanced facility； 〃when I loosened the restraint of an
overpowering if unmanly grief； I imagined that I was alone； for I would
have shunned even the most flattering sympathy； but your charitably…
modulated voice invites confidence。 The one before you is the most
contemptible； left…handed； and disqualified outcast in creation； and he is
now making his way towards the river； while his widow will be left to take
in washing； his infant son to vend evening printed leaves； and his graceful
and hitherto highly secluded daughters to go upon the stage。〃
〃Say； stranger；〃 interposed this person； by no means unwilling to
engrave upon his memory this newly…acquired form of greeting； 〃the
emotion is doubtless all…pressing； but in my ornate and flower…laden
tongue we have a salutation； 'Slowly； slowly； walk slowly；' which seems to
be of far…seeing application。〃
〃That's so；〃 remarked the one by my side。 〃Separate it with the teeth；
inch by inch。〃
〃I will be calm； then；〃 continued the other （who； to avoid the
complication of the intermingling circumstances； may be described as the
more stranger of the two）； and he took of his neckcloth。 〃I am a merchant
in tea； yellow fat； and mixed spices； in a small but hitherto satisfactory
way。〃 Thus revealing himself； he continued to set forth how at an earlier
hour he had started on a journey to deposit his wealth （doubtless as a
propitiation of outraged deities） upon a certain bank； and how； upon
reaching the specified point； he discovered that what he carried had eluded
his vigilance。 〃All gone： notes； gold； and pocket…bookthe savings of a
lifetime；〃 concluded the ill…omened one； and at the recollection a sudden
and even more highly…sustained frenzy of self…unpopularity involving him；
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without a pause he addressed himself by seven and twenty insulting
expressions； many of which were quite new to my understanding。
At the earliest mention of the details affecting the loss； the elbow of
the person who had made himself responsible for the financial obligation
of the day propelled itself against my middle part； and unseen by the other
he indicated to me by means of his features that the entertainment was
becoming one of agreeable prepossession。
〃Now； touching this hyer wallet；〃 he said presently。 〃How might you
describe it？〃
〃In colour it was red； and within were two compartments； the one
containing three score notes each of ten pounds； the other fifty pounds of
gold。 But what's the use of describing it？ Some lucky demon will pick it
up and pocket the lot； and I shall never see a cent of it again。〃
〃Then you'd better consult one who reburnishes the eyes；〃 declared the
magnanimous one with a laugh； and drawing forth the article referred to
he cast it towards the merchant in a small way。
At this point of the narrative my thoroughly incompetent brush
confesses the proportions of the requirement to be beyond its most
extended limit； and many very honourable details are necessarily left
without expression。
〃I've known men of all sorts； good； bad； and bothwise；〃 exclaimed the
one who had recovered his possessions； 〃but I never thought to meet a
gent as would hand over six hundred and fifty pounds as if it was a
toothpick。 Sir； it overbalances me； it does； indeed。〃
〃Say no more about it；〃 urged the first person； and to suggest
gracefully that the incident had reached its furthest extremity； he began to
set out the melody of an unspoken verse。
〃I will say no more； then；〃 he replied； 〃but you cannot reasonably
prevent my doing something to express my gratitude。 If you are not too
proud you will come and partake of food and wine with me beneath the
sign of the Funereal Male Cow； and to show my confidence in you I shall
insist upon you carrying my pocket…book。〃
The person whom I had first encountered suffered his face to become
excessively amused。 〃Say； stranger； do you take me for a pack…mule？〃 he
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replied good…naturedly。 〃I already have about as much as I want to handle。
Never mind； we'll come along with you； and Mr。 Kong shall carry your
bullion。〃
At this delicate and high…minded proposal a rapid change； in no way
complimentary to my explicit habit of adequately conducting any venture
upon which I may be engaged； came over the face of the second person。
〃Sir；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I have nothing to say against this gentleman； but
I am under no obligation to him； and I don't see why I should trust him
with everything I possess。〃
〃Stranger；〃 exclaimed the other rising to his feet （and from this point it
must be understood that the various details succeeded one another with a
really agile dexterity）； 〃let me tell you that Mr。 Kong is my friend； and that
ought to be enough。〃
〃It is。 If you say this gentleman is your friend； and that you have
known him long and intimately enough to be able to answer for him； that's
good enough for me。〃
〃Well；〃 admitted the first person； and I could not conceal from myself
that his tone was inauspiciously reluctant； 〃I can't exactly say that I've
known him long； in fact I only met him half an hour ago。 But I have the
fullest confidence in his integrity。〃
〃It's just as I expected。 Well； sir； you're good…natured enough for
anything； but if you'll excuse me； I must say that you're a small piece of an
earthenware vessel after all〃the veiled allusion doubtlessly being that the
vessel of necessity being broken； the contents inevitably escape〃and I
hope you're not being had。〃
〃I'm not； and I'll prove it before we go out together；〃 retorted the
engaging one； who had in the meantime become so actively impetuous on
my account； that he did not remain content with the spoken words； but
threw the various belongings about as he mentioned them in a really
profuse display of inimitable vehemence。 〃Here；