st three days I had been losing no
opportunity of snubbing this fellow, and to demonstrate to him that, so
far from feeling obliged to him, I disliked him all the more for what he
had done. In return for which he now writes me this beautiful letter,
breathing forgiveness and considerateness, and absolutely apologising
for having paid thirty shillings to save me from ruin!

Either he must be a paragon of the first water, or else--

I gave it up, and handed the letter across to Jack Smith. He read it,
with knit brows, from beginning to end, and then a second time; after
which he tossed it back to me and said, "Well, what do you think of
that?"

"What do you?"

"Rot, every bit of it!"

I expected he would say so. "But, Jack," I began.

"You don't mean to say," said Jack, "you're going to let yourself be
taken in by that stuff?"

"But unless he means what he says, what possible motive can he have for
writing a letter like that?"

Jack did not answer. We did not discuss the matter further, but I went
down to the office that morning with the letter in my pocket, heartily
wishing I could make up my mind what to think of it all as easily as
Jack Smith.

One thing, at any rate, was a comfort--I should not see Hawkesbury for
two days.

But if I was to be spared the sight of one unwelcome person, I had in
store for me another which I little expected. I was coming with Jack
out of the office on the second evening afterwards, after a hard day's
work, wondering why my uncle did not write, and sighing inwardly at the
prospect of seeing Hawkesbury back next day, when a stranger accosted me
in the street.

At least, I thought him a stranger until, standing full in front of him,
I saw his face and heard him speak.

"Oh, good evening, Mr Batchelor, sir! The governor's compliments,
sir--Mr Shoddy's compliments--and he'll be particularly glad if you'll
step round now, sir."

I owed Shoddy three pounds, and this summons fell on my ear like a
knell.

"Better go," said Jack.

How sick Jack must be of me, thought I, by this time. Ever since I had
been back with him he had been for ever worried either with my health or
my debts or my office rows. I was half tempted to ask him not to come,
but I could not bring myself to be sufficiently self-denying.

"What does Mr Shoddy want me for?" I asked of the assistant as we
walked along.

"I believe, sir, between ourselves, it's about your little account, sir.
How do the