Everywhere, and last of all from his
lodgings, he was bowed out; and found himself reduced,
in a very elegant suit of summer tweeds, to herd and
camp with the degraded outcasts of the city.
In this strait he had recourse to the lawyer who paid
him his allowance.
"Try to remember that my time is valuable, Mr.
Carthew," said the lawyer. "It is quite unnecessary
you should enlarge on the peculiar position in which
you stand. REMITTANCE MEN, as we call them here,
are not so rare in my experience; and in such cases I
act upon a system. I make you a present of a
sovereign--here it is. Every day you choose to call my
clerk will advance you a shilling; on Saturday, since
my office is closed on Sunday, he will advance you
half-a-crown. My conditions are these. That you do
not come to me, but to my clerk; that you do not come
here the worse of liquor; and you go away the moment
you are paid and have signed a receipt.--I wish you a
good-morning."
"I have to thank you, I suppose," said Carthew. "My
position is so wretched that I cannot even refuse this
starvation allowance.
Pages:
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549