"Before the purse is shown to any claimant he must satisfactorily describe it."
"Very well; that's all about it. If it ain't mine, it ain't mine. You needn't be nasty."
"I have no intention of being nasty."
"Then don't be. Because a pore feller loses his purse he don't need to be trampled on. You can be pore but honest."
With the utterance of this trite and, possibly, admirable observation the man strolled off, with his hands in his pockets. My clerical friend, who had lingered in the hall, endeavoured to take me by the button-hole. He addressed me in a confidential whisper.
"Pardon me, sir, but circumstances over which I have no control have temporarily crippled my resources. Since, from motives which I understand, and which I honour, sir, you prefer to continue to be the custodian of my family property, might I with confidence ask you to oblige me with a small loan till I am able to place myself in communication with my daughter?"
"You might not."
"I fear that I am already late for my appointment. The only way to reach it in time will be to take a cab. May I, at least, ask you to enable me to pay the fare?"
"You may not."
He sighed.