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           ”

           Onthewayhomeinthecarriage,forthefirsttimeinmylife,Iwasinclinedtoindulgeintheradicalthoughtthatmoneywasnotproperlydivided.

           Onarrivinghomeataquarter-pasteleven,wefoundahansomcab,whichhadbeenwaitingformefortwohourswithaletter.Sarahsaidshedidnotknowwhattodo,aswehadnotlefttheaddresswherewehadgone.ItrembledasIopenedtheletter,fearingitwassomebadnewsaboutMr.Perkupp.Thenotewas:“DearMr.Pooter—ComedowntotheVictoriaHotelwithoutdelay.Important.Yourstruly,HardfurHuttle.”

           Iaskedthecabmanifitwastoolate.Thecabmanrepliedthatitwasnot;forhisinstructionswere,ifIhappenedtobeout,hewastowaittillIcamehome.Ifeltverytired,andreallywantedtogotobed.Ireachedthehotelataquarterbeforemidnight.Iapologisedforbeingsolate,butMr.Huttlesaid:“Notatall;comeandhaveafewoysters.”IfeelmyheartbeatingasIwritethesewords.Tobebrief,Mr.HuttlesaidhehadarichAmericanfriendwhowantedtodosomethinglargeinourlineofbusiness,andthatMr.Franchinghadmentionedmynametohim.Wetalkedoverthematter.If,byanyhappychance,theresultbesuccessful,IcanmorethancompensatemydearmasterforthelossofMr.Crowbillon’scustom.Mr.Huttlehadpreviouslysaid:“Theglorious‘Fourth’isaluckydayforAmerica,and,asithasnotyetstrucktwelve,wewillcelebrateitwithaglassofthebestwinetobehadintheplace,anddrinkgoodlucktoourbitofbusiness