'We concluded, you know, Ned, that we would take no more money in this way.'
'Well, we had better stick to that, let what will come.'
'How would it answer to tell him just the situation of things with us, and the reasons why we cannot receive it.'
'If you tell him any thing, Jim, you had better tell the whole.'
James's heart was lighter, because he had resolved to act consistently with a sense of duty.
'I believe, sir, we must decline your generous offer.'
James saw that the Commodore seemed surprised.
'We do this, sir, not but that we need the funds—and they would at the present moment be of immense advantage to us—but we have no doubt, that you have made the offer under the impression that we are in very different circumstances from what, I am sorry to say, is the truth. But as you are a man of business, and can appreciate our motives for not having made a general exposition of our affairs, I will communicate to you our true situation.'
And James gave a clear account of their course of business, from its commencement to the time when such unexpected losses at one stroke swept off the hard-earned profits of their youthful enterprise. He also explained to him the unpleasant situation in which they felt themselves placed, by being made the depositaries of so many sums of money, which might be called for at any moment, and especially should the least surmise get abroad unfriendly to their standing.
After he had closed, the Commodore took out his gold snuff-box, and rapping it pretty hard, helped himself freely, and then very deliberately returned it to his pocket.