Here Mr. Hamilton asked Henry a few questions, with a view of testing his knowledge both as to extent and accuracy; and the result was so satisfactory as more and more to prepossess him in favor of the boy.
He returned to business.
"It appears," he said, "that, interest deducted, you have ninety-one dollars and a quarter to your credit with me. You are at liberty to draw it, if you wish."
"What would you advise me to do, Mr. Hamilton?" asked Henry.
"You had better leave it in my hands for such use as I may think likely to prove profitable. I shall dispatch a vessel to Marseilles in a week. Would you like to take a share in this venture?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then, I will assign six hundred dollars to you. Five you may continue to borrow of me. One is your own."
"Not quite, sir. You remember the interest."
"That need not be charged till the end of the year. I will still retain the savings-bank book you left with me as a guaranty. Is that satisfactory?"
"Entirely so, sir."