“But you will be sure to bring it all back, won’t you, Edwin? and to be here by Wednesday, the day I return?” she said to him.
“Why, of course I shall, my dear.”
“It will be a double portion now—thirty-five pounds.”
“And a good thing, too; we shall want it,” he returned.
“Indeed, yes; there’s such a heap of things owing for,” concluded Nancy.
Thus the captain went over to England in great glee, carrying with him the order for the money. But he was reckoning without his host.
Upon presenting himself at the bank in the City on Monday morning, he found Colonel Selby absent; not expected to return before the end of that week, or the beginning of the next. This was a check for Captain Fennel. He quite glared at the gentleman who thus informed him—Mr. West, who sat in the colonel’s room, and was his locum tenens for the time being.
“Business is transacted all the same, I conclude?” said he snappishly.
“Why, certainly,” replied Mr. West, marvelling at the absurdity of the question. “What can I do for you?”
Captain Fennel produced his wife’s letter, requesting that her quarter’s money should be paid over to him, and handed in her receipt for the same. Mr. West read them both, the letter twice, and then looked direct through his silver-rimmed spectacles at the applicant.