a rat's point of view, when the air was
so thick and heavy and moist that it was difficult to see more than a
few yards in any direction, Denham came down the lane about half-an-hour
later than usual, with a brisk step and an unusually smiling
countenance.

Peekins' successor relieved him of his hat, topcoat, and umbrella, and
one of the clerks brought him the letters. Before opening these he
shouted--

"Mr Crumps!"

Crumps came meekly out of his cell, as if he had been a bad dog who knew
he deserved, and expected, a whipping.

"Nothing wrong, I trust," he said anxiously.

"No; on the contrary, everything right," (Crumps' old face brightened),
"I've succeeded in getting that ship at what I call a real bargain--500
less than I had anticipated and was prepared to give." (Crumps rubbed
his hands.) "Now, I mean to send this ship out to Australia, with a
miscellaneous cargo, as soon as she can be got ready for sea. The gold
fever is at its height just now, and it strikes me that, with a little
judgment and prudence, a good thing may be made out there. At any rate,
I mean to venture; for our speculations last year have, as you know,
turned out well, with the exception of that unfortunate `Trident,' and
we are sufficiently in funds just at this time to afford to run
considerable risk."

Crumps expressed great satisfaction, and agreed with all that Denham
said. He also asked what the name of the new ship was to be.

"The `Trident,'" said Mr Denham.

"What! the name of the ship we lost in Saint Margaret's Bay?" exclaimed
Crumps, in surprise.

"I thought you knew the name of the ship we lost in Saint Margaret's
Bay," said Denham sarcastically.

"Of course, of course," replied Crumps, in some confusion, "but I mean--
that is, don't you think it looks like flying in the face of Providence
to give it the same name?"

"Mr Crumps," said Denham, with an air of dignified reproof, "it is most
unnatural, most uncalled for, to talk of Providence in connexion with
business. It is a word, sir, that may be appropriately used on Sundays
and in churches, but not in offices, and I beg that you will not again
allude to it. There is no such thing, sir, as Providence in business
matters--at least such is my opinion; and I say this in order that you
may understand that any remarks of that kind are quite thrown away on
me. I am a plain practical man of business, Mr Crumps; once for all,
allow me to say that, I object to the ver