That miserable old woman had shattered his hopes at the very moment of their fulfilment. It was fate again!
As he stood, fiercely gripping the bars of the gate, he heard Coggs' hateful voice again.
"Hallo! so you haven't got the Globe and the other thing after all, then; they've shut you out?"
"Yes," said Mr. Bultitude in a hollow voice; "they've shut me out!"
16. Hard Pressed
"Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles,
How he outruns the wind, and with what care
He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles: