He seemed to have collapsed completely; there must be bad news, I could drag nothing out of him, as he sat there in his moleskin arm-chair, but vague allusions, and an estimate, which was by the way entirely incorrect, of the financial resources of the two parties concerned. Germany had no reserve of gold. If we could hold out for two or three months!
"Are you going to fight?" I asked.
"Oh, no, no! Since the Agadir business, you know, ... my wife's one idea has been to get me put on half-pay. I thought it awful rot, but as my heart is a bit weak ... my doctor has given me a certificate; I've been to see a surgeon-major; no difficulties were made about it.... And by Jove it's lucky for me now!... And what about you? You're not going, I suppose."
"I beg your pardon!"
He seemed surprised. He had just seen several of his clients—Well, I was the first....
Feeling irritated, I cut him short with: "Can you let me have a certain sum on account?"
"Oh, but there's the moratorium...."
Somewhat embarrassed, he entered into explanations which I listened to with raised eyebrows:
"To an old client like myself!"
After renewed hesitation, he made up his mind: "Well, let's see, would you need a large sum?"