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"This is it we're in, and that's the place over the way. Merrett's is on the first-floor." "Be sure you wait outside for me," said I, preparing to dart over. "Yes," said he. "But, Fred, promise me one thing." "What?" said I, hurriedly. "Not to show off badly because I'm after the place too." Old Jack! He gave me credit, I fear, for a good deal more nobleness than I had a right to claim.
And what a scorn his must be when he would rather submit tamely to a cowardly blow than have me suppose that for a moment anything I could do would be of service to him! However, Mr Merrett's arrival put an end to further altercation for the present, and during the next few hours no one would have guessed what fires were smouldering under the peaceful surface of the Hawk Street counting-house.
Among other things, I told Jack of the expected addition to the staff at Hawk Street, which interested him greatly, especially as the new-comer was to work in the Import department. "I hope he'll be a nice fellow," he said. "What's his name?" "I don't know. He's a nephew of Merrett's, they say, and a good fellow.
"Talking of partners," said Harris, of the Imports, over the screen, when Jack had gone in obedience to the summons, "we're to have the new chap here next week." "What's his name?" asked Doubleday. "Don't know. He's a nephew, I believe, of old Merrett's. The old boy told me the other day he was to come into my department to learn the business.
"This is a pleasant surprise," he said again; "who would have thought of seeing you and Batchelor in Uncle Merrett's office?" "We've been here several months," replied Jack, not quite as cordially, I could see, as his old schoolfellow. "Have you? I'm afraid I shall never learn as much as you have," he said, with his old smile.
"Well," said Linton, looking down at the sufferer with an expression that was a delicate blend of pity and contempt, "you've made a nice sort of ass of yourself, haven't you! I don't know if it's any consolation to you, but Merrett's just as bad as you are. And I hear the others are, too. So now you see what comes of going to Ring's instead of Cook's."
Everyone in the house is jolly sick with Merrett. They think he ought to have owned up." "Did that smash up Merrett's show? Is he going to turn out any more?" "Rather not. Who'd buy 'em?" It would have been better for the Lines Supplying Trust if Merrett had not received this crushing blow and had been allowed to carry on a rival business on legitimate lines.
Hawkesbury appeared, and at Mr Merrett's bidding, after being shown the cheque, repeated once more his story in the hearing of the stranger. It did not vary from the former version, and included the statement that I had quitted the office at the time alleged. "Did you leave the office at all?" inquired Mr Barnacle. "No," said Hawkesbury. "Not at all?" "No, I said so," replied he.
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