"
Informed by Grindle that the "Captain" was at liberty, Mahony passed to
an inner room where he was waved to a chair. In answer to his statement
that he had called to see about raising some money, Ocock returned an:
"Indeed? Money is tight, sir, very tight!" his face instantly taking on
the blank-wall solemnity proper to dealings with this world's main
asset.
Mahony did not at once hand over John's way-soothing letter. He thought
he would first test the lawyer's attitude towards him in person--a
species of self-torment men of his make are rarely able to withstand. He
spoke of the decline of his business; of his idea of setting up as a
doctor and building himself a house; and, as he talked, he read his
answer pat and clear in the ferrety eyes before him. There was a bored
tolerance of his wordiness, an utter lack of interest in the concerns of
the petty tradesman.
"H'm." Ocock, lying back in his chair, was fitting five outstretched
fingers to their fellows. "All very well, my good sir, but may I ask if
you have anyone in view as a security?"
"I have. May I trouble you to glance through this?" and triumphantly
Mahony brandished John's letter.
Ocock raised his brows. "What? Mr. John Turnham? Ah, very good . . .
very good indeed!" The brazen-faced change in his manner would have made
a cat laugh; he sat upright, was interested, courteous, alert. "Quite in
order! And now, pray, how much do we need?"
Unadvised, he had not been able, said Mahony, to determine the sum.
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