said Cradell, his friend
of old.

"Nonsense," said Eames.

"I don't see that it's nonsense at all. They can't get over a medical
certificate from a respectable man; and everybody has got something
the matter with him of some kind."

"I should go and let him do his worst," said Fisher, who was another
clerk. "It wouldn't be more than putting you down a place or two.
As to losing your present berth you don't mind that, and they would
never think of dismissing you."

"But I do mind being put down a place or two," said Johnny, who could
not forget that were he so put down his friend Fisher would gain the
step which he would lose.

"I should give him a barrel of oysters, and talk to him about the
Chancellor of the Exchequer," said FitzHoward, who had been private
secretary to Sir Raffle before Eames, and might therefore be supposed
to know the man.

"That might have done very well if I had not asked him and been
refused first," said John Eames. "I'll tell what I'll do. I'll write
a long letter on a sheet of foolscap paper, with a regular margin, so
that it must come before the Board, and perhaps that will frighten
him."

When he mentioned his difficulty on that evening to Mr. Toogood, the
lawyer begged him to give up the journey. "It will only be sending a
clerk, and it won't cost so very much after all," said Toogood. But
Johnny's pride could not allow him to give way. "I'm not going to be
done about it," said he. "I'm not going to resign, but I will go even
though they may dismiss me. I don't think it will come to that, but
if it does it must." His uncle begged of him not to think of such
an alternative; but this discussion took place after dinner, and
away from the office, and Eames would not submit to bow his neck to
authority. "If it comes to that," said he, "a fellow might as well
be a slave at once. And what is the use of a fellow having a little
money if it does not make him independent? You may be sure of one
thing, I shall go; and that on the day fixed."

On the next morning John Eames was very silent when he went into Sir
Raffle's room at the office. There was now only this day and another
before that fixed for his departure, and it was of course very
necessary that matters should be arranged. But he said nothing to Sir
Raffle during the morning. The great man himself was condescending
and endeavoured to be kind. He knew that his stern refusal had
greatly irritated his private secretary, and was anxiou