beer and spirits, come to me and _let me keep your money for
you_!" They'll burst out laughing at me, and say, "Catch us doing that!"
Yes, but I'll persuade them, see if I don't. And in this way. "Suppose,"
I'll say, "there's five hundred men bring me threepence each every week.
Now what man of you doesn't spend threepence a week in drink, get the
coppers how he may? Do you know how much that comes to, five hundred
threepenny bits? Why, it's six pounds five shillings. And do you know
what that comes to in a year? Why, no less than three hundred and
twenty-five pounds! Now just listen to that, and think about it. Those
threepenny bits are no use to you; you _can't_ save them, and you spend
them in a way that does you no good, and it may be harm. Now what do you
think I'll do with that money? Why, I'll use it as the capitalists
do. I'll put it out to interest; I'll get three per cent. for it, and
perhaps more. But let's say three per cent. What's the result? Why,
this: in one year your three hundred and twenty-five pounds has become
three hundred and thirty-four pounds fifteen; I owe each of you thirteen
shillings and fourpence halfpenny, and a fraction more."'

He had already jotted down calculations, and read from them, looking up
between times at Adela with the air of conviction which he would address
to his audience of East Enders.

'"Now if you'd only saved the thirteen shillings--which you wouldn't and
couldn't have done by yourselves--it would be well worth the while; but
you've got the interest as well, and the point I want you to understand
is that you can only get that increase by clubbing together and
investing the savings as a whole. You may say fourpence halfpenny isn't
worth having. Perhaps not, but those of you who've learnt arithmetic--be
thankful if our social state allowed you to learn anything--will
remember that there's such a thing as compound interest. It's a trick
the capitalists found out. Interest was a good discovery, but compound
interest a good deal better. Leave your money with me a second year, and
it'll grow more still, I'll see to that. You're all able, I've no doubt,
to make the calculation for yourselves."'

He paused to see what Adela would say.

'No doubt it will be a very good thing if you can persuade them to save
in that way,' she remarked.

'Good, yes; but I'm not thinking so much of the money. Don't you see
that it'll give me a hold over them? Every man who wants to save on my