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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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〃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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couple of glazed windows。 An ink…stained table； littered with pens；
papers； and almanacs； an American cloth sofa； three chairs of varying
patterns； and a much…worn carpet； constituted all the furniture； save only a
very large and obtrusive porcelain spittoon； and a gaudily framed and very
somber picture which hung above the fireplace。 Sitting in front of this
picture； and staring gloomily at it； as being the only thing which he could
stare at； was a small sallow…faced boy with a large head； who in the
intervals of his art studies munched sedately at an apple。
〃Is Mr。 Smith or Mr。 Hanbury in？〃 asked the Admiral。
〃There ain't no such people；〃 said the small boy。
〃But you have the names on the door。〃
〃Ah； that is the name of the firm； you see。 It's only a name。 It's Mr。
Reuben Metaxa that you wants。〃
〃Well then； is he in？〃
〃No； he's not。〃
〃When will he be back？〃
〃Can't tell； I'm sure。 He's gone to lunch。 Sometimes he takes one
hour； and sometimes two。 It'll be two to…day； I 'spect； for he said he was
hungry afore he went。〃
〃Then I suppose that we had better call again； 〃 said the Admiral。
〃Not a bit；〃 cried Charles。 〃I know how to manage these little imps。
See here； you young varmint； here's a shilling for you。 Run off and fetch
your master。 If you don't bring him here in five minutes I'll clump you
on the side of the head when you get back。 Shoo！ Scat！〃 He charged
at the youth； who bolted from the room and clattered madly down…stairs。
〃He'll fetch him；〃 said Charles。 〃Let us make ourselves at home。
This sofa does not feel over and above safe。 It was not meant for fifteen…
stone men。 But this doesn't look quite the sort of place where one would
expect to pick up money。〃
〃Just what I was thinking；〃 said the Admiral； looking ruefully about
him。
〃Ah； well！ I have heard that the best furnished offices generally
belong to the poorest firms。 Let us hope it's the opposite here。 They
can't spend much on the management anyhow。 That pumpkin…headed
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boy was the staff； I suppose。 Ha； by Jove； that's his voice； and he's got
our man； I think！〃
As he spoke the youth appeared in the doorway with a small； brown；
dried…up little chip of a man at his heels。 He was clean…shaven and blue…
chinned； with bristling black hair； and keen brown eyes which shone out
very brightly from between pouched under…lids and drooping upper ones。
He advanced； glancing keenly from one to the other of his visitors； and
slowly rubbing together his thin； blue…veined hands。 The small boy
closed the door behind him； and discreetly vanished。
〃I am Mr。 Reuben Metaxa；〃 said the moneylender。 〃Was it about an
advance you wished to see me？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃For you； I presume？〃 turning to Charles Westmacott。
〃No； for this gentleman。〃
The moneylender looked surprised。 〃How much did you desire？〃
〃I thought of five thousand pounds；〃 said the Admiral。
〃And on what security？〃
〃I am a retired admiral of the British navy。 You will find my name in
the Navy List。 There is my card。 I have here my pension papers。 I get
L850 a year。 I thought that perhaps if you were to hold these papers it
would be security enough that I should pay you。 Yo