On making the acquaintance of the senior partner I felt that I stood in the presence of a gentleman of no ordinary ability—one whose verdict would go far to decide whether my mission would be stamped with “success” or endorsed with “failure.”
I related to him as briefly as possible the circumstances which brought me to him; I handed him the power of attorney, and, being desirous of securing his unlimited confidence, I also exhibited to him my letter of credit and introduction to the eminent Canadian house, Messrs. Gillespie, Moffat, & Co.
When I had finished my recital, Mr. Roberts took a few moments for reflection. I watched him narrowly, and I fancied I read distinctly in his countenance that his honest conviction was adverse to my cause.
I found that such was the fact; for, addressing me very deliberately, he said, “I fear your case is hopeless, and that your journey will be a fruitless one.”
He explained to me the law of Canada in reference to such cases, and pointed out, that even if I found Hooker, which was in his opinion, doubtful, I could only treat him as a debtor; I could not touch either his person or his goods; that I might bring an action against him for a common debt, with the consolatory thought that after I had spent some weeks in litigation and obtained judgment, Mr. Hooker would run across to the United States and snap his fingers at me and my judgment.
Mr. Roberts was kind enough to say he could not but admire the spirit which had been evinced by our bank, in taking such prompt and energetic action in the matter, and expressed a desire that other large mercantile firms in England would adopt a similar line of conduct, which would prevent Canada, and more particularly Montreal (from its proximity to the United States), becoming the resort of so many swindlers to the mother country.
Naturally I felt for the moment cast down by the revelation of the “hopelessness of my case,” and for an instant I contemplated relinquishing all further proceedings; but happily, in a few minutes, this feeling vanished, and I became, as it were, fortified with unusual strength and energy.
I was enabled calmly to reflect upon the formidable difficulty I had to encounter, and instead of abandoning my mission, I resolved to prosecute it to the utmost.
I told the legal adviser that my first step must be to discover the fugitive, and next to give him into “pretty safe” custody, until I could come to a satisfactory settlement with him—disregarding for the time all the terrors of the Canadian law on the question of false imprisonment.
At this period I was introduced to the junior partner of the firm, who subsequently undertook the management of the affair, and by his advice I shut myself up in my hotel, in case Hooker should see me and abscond whilst the avocat undertook to send during the day to all the hotels to examine the books of arrivals.