| including what remains
Interest on said money at | of Dimsdale's premium. 8400
5 per cent. 1125 | Profit on the cargo of
Working expenses of the | _Maid of Athens_, now
firm during the next six | in port. 2000
months, including cost of | Profit on the cargoes
ships, at 150 pounds per | of _Black Eagle_,_Swan_
week 3900 | and _Panther_, calculated
Private expenses at | at the same rate. 6000
Ecclestone Square, say 1000 | Deficit 26425
Expenses of Langworthy |
in Russia, and of my dear |
son in Africa, say 600 |
Insurances 1200 |
Total 76825 | Total 76825
|
All this money must be found within |The possibility of the sinking
nine months at the outside. |of a ship must not be
|overlooked--that would bring in
|from 12000 to 20000 pounds.

"Come, it's not so very bad after all," the merchant muttered, after he
had gone over these figures very slowly and carefully. He leaned back
in his chair and looked up at the ceiling with a much more cheerful
expression upon his face. "At the worst it is less than thirty
thousand pounds. Why, many firms would think little of it. The fact
is, that I have so long been accustomed to big balances on the right
side that it seems to be a very dreadful thing now that it lies the
other way. A dozen things may happen to set all right. I must not
forget, however," he continued, with a darker look, "that I have dipped
into my credit so freely that I could not borrow any more without
exciting suspicion and having the whole swarm down on us. After all,
our hopes lie in the diamonds. Ezra cannot fail. He must succeed.
Who can prevent him?"

"Major Tobias Clutterbuck," cried the sharp, creaky voice of Gilray as
if in answer to the question, and the little clerk, who had knocked once
or twice unnoticed, opened the door and ushered in the old Campaigner.

[1] It may be well to remark, that this and succeeding incidents
occurred in the old Crown Colony days, before the diamond legislation
was as strict as it has since become.

CHAPTER XVIII.