“And what have you done?”
“I have sent for bail.”
“Why did you not send to me?”
“Thank you, I am grateful for your kindness, but you are a foreigner, and sureties have to be householders.”
“But you ought to have told me what had happened, for I have got you an excellent supper, and I am dying of hunger.”
It was possible that this debt might exceed my means, so I did not dare to offer to pay it. I took Sara aside, and on hearing that all his trouble was on account of a debt of a hundred and fifty pounds, I asked the bailiff whether we could go away if the debt was paid.
“Certainly,” said he, shewing me the bill of exchange.
I took out three bank notes of fifty pounds each, and gave them to the man, and taking the bill I said to the poor Swiss,—
“You shall pay me the money before you leave England.”
The whole family wept with joy, and after embracing them all I summoned them to come and sup with me and forget the troubles of life.