e must take up his bill; that's all," said Dobbs Broughton.

"But it doesn't suit me to take it up," said Crosbie.

"Then you must take it up without suiting you," said Dobbs Broughton.

It might have been seen, I said, with half an eye, that Mr. Broughton
did not like the state of the money-market; and it might also be
seen with the other half that he had been endeavouring to mitigate
the bitterness of his dislike by alcoholic aid. Musselboro at once
perceived that his patron and partner was half drunk, and Crosbie
was aware that he had been drinking. But, nevertheless, it was
necessary that something more should be said. The bill would be due
to-morrow,--was payable at Crosbie's bankers; and, as Mr. Crosbie too
well knew, there were no funds there for the purpose. And there were
other purposes, very needful, for which Mr. Crosbie's funds were at
the present moment unfortunately by no means sufficient. He stood
for a few moments thinking what he would do;--whether he would leave
the drunken man and his office and let the bill take its chance or
whether he would make one more effort for an arrangement. He did
not for a moment believe that Broughton himself was subject to any
pecuniary difficulty. Broughton lived in a big house, as rich men
live, and had a name for commercial success. It never occurred to
Crosbie that it was a matter of great moment to Dobbs Broughton
himself that the bill should be taken up. Crosbie still thought that
Musselboro was his special enemy, and that Broughton had joined
Musselboro in his hostility simply because he was too drunk to know
better. "You might, at any rate, answer me civilly, Mr. Broughton," he
said.

"I know nothing about civility with things as they are at present,"
said Broughton. "Civil by ----! There's nothing so civil as paying
money when you owe it. Musselboro, reach me down the decanter and
some glasses. Perhaps Mr. Crosbie will wet his whistle."

"He don't want any wine,--nor you either," said Musselboro.

"What's up now?" said Broughton, staggering across the room towards
a cupboard, in which it was his custom to keep a provision of that
comfort which he needed at the present moment. "I suppose I may stand
a glass of wine to a fellow in my own room, if I like it."

"I will take no wine, thank you," said Crosbie.

"Then you can to do the other thing. When I ask a gentleman to take
a glass of wine, there is no compulsion. But about the bill there is
compulsion. Do