When this was done and he had surveyed himself carefully, he took another pull at the flask on general principles and proceeded to take further steps. He might as well have left the liquor alone, because his nerve, once he commenced operations, was like iron.
He banged about some drawers, as if he were looking for something, and then called out:
"Jack?"
No answer.
"Jack?"
Still no answer.
The ledger-keeper from A to M, who occupied the stall beyond Jack's, then growled out:
"What's the matter with you?"
"Where's Jack?"
"I don't know. He asked me to look after his ledger for a moment, and then went out. He has been out for over an hour, and if the beggar thinks I'm going to be skipping round to look up his confounded ledger all day he's mistaken. I'll give him a piece of my mind when he comes in."