“Is it—is it a monetary question?”
Thickens raised his head, nodded, and lowered it again till his teeth touched the chair back. “Some one in difficulties?”
Thickens nodded.
“Not you, Mr Thickens? You are too careful a man.”
“No: not me, sir.”
“Some friend?”
Thickens shook his head, and there was silence for a few moments, only broken by the dull sound of the clerk’s teeth upon the chair.
“Do you want me to advance some money to a person in distress?”
Thickens raised his head quickly, and looked sharply in his visitor’s eye; but only to lower his head again.
“No. No,” he said.