The partners arrived and received me—each in his own peculiar way—very kindly. Mr Merrett was good enough to say the work of the office had suffered a good deal in my absence, and Mr Barnacle said he hoped I had come back prepared to make up for lost time. To both which observations I listened respectfully, and returned once more to my desk.
The morning passed quickly and busily. I had made a plunge into the difficult task so considerately saved up for me by Doubleday, and felt quite refreshed by the array of figures to be dealt with. In fact, I was so engrossed with it that when Jack came and asked me if I was going out to lunch I said I really could not leave it now, but would take my lunch later on.
So he went, and several of the others, leaving me with Crow, Wallop, and Hawkesbury, in possession of the office.
The two former heroes had by this time somewhat recovered from their surprise at seeing me once more in the land of the living, and seemed disposed to wax facetious in proportion at my expense.
I dug my thumbs into my ears, in the hopes of getting on with my work, but it was not easy, and I had at last to give up the attempt.
“Jolly glad he’s not kicked the bucket, for one thing,” said Wallop.
“Why?” asked Crow, apparently surprised that there should be any reason for thankfulness in such an event.
“He owes me thirty bob, that’s all,” said Wallop.
It was true! It was one of the oldest of my debts, and one which had been greatly on my mind for many a day.
“Ah!” said I, feeling constrained to take some notice of the remark. “I’m afraid I’ve kept you out of that money a long time, Wallop.”