Here Merchant Morris was interrupted by a quiet voice saying:
“Good-morning, Friend Morris; thou art early upon thy affairs to-day.”
It was a tall, quiet-faced Quaker, wrapped in a gray woolen shawl, and with his broad-brimmed hat pulled well down.
“It is a pressing matter, though no more my own than yours, friend, which compels me to be early astir,” replied Morris.
“Ah,” said the Quaker. “Some affair of Congress, or the army.”
“A most active necessity,” said Morris. He drew off his gloves, took out Washington’s letter and read it aloud once more. When he had concluded, he added: “You see, it was not a thing to be dandled over.”
The tall Quaker nodded.
“As thou sayest, friend, a most pressing business, indeed.” He looked at Merchant Morris for a moment with quiet eyes. “What sum does General Washington mention?” he asked.
“Fifty thousand dollars.”
“It is a great deal.” Again came the pause; then he continued in the same unruffled voice, “Friend Robert, what security canst thou offer against a loan of such size?”