"I see," said Parrott, plunging into the perusal of a pile of papers. "Well, I'll be sure to let you know."
Old Josh then made an effort and blurted out: "A party told me, sir, as how the present needs might be put right by a certain sum o' money down, which I may say would be a fi' pun note. I make bold, sir, to ask you for the loan of that sum, which will be a God-send and a generous action."
Parrott turned pale and stared. "What's that you say?"
"A matter of five pounds, sir," said old Josh. "If my son-in-law had done as I told him, it wouldn't have been for me, sir——"
"Never mind your son-in-law, I'm very busy just now," said Parrott.
"Then I suppose it's no good my——"
Parrott waved his hand. "You'd better come—come and see me later. I can't talk now."
Old Josh went off highly gratified, with many apologies for the disturbance. The next person to enter was George Early, summoned by special messenger.
"Early," said the head clerk, "your work has been very unsatisfactory lately, and although you've been warned several times it doesn't seem to improve. You set a bad example to the others, and I feel it my duty to bring this matter to a close. You are a smart young fellow, but you don't quite suit the firm. I dare say you will be valuable to somebody else, so I set you at liberty a week from now."
"Thanks," said George; "then it's no good asking for a rise in salary?"