Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and , was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and of offices. He was white-haired and , with a deep-lined face, was to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just into one, or just recovering himself. He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and his conversation with little from the classics.
“My dear Sir,” said he, when he had listened to their story, “any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine. Try a pinch. I wonder that you should have gone to this man Metaxa. His advertisement is enough to him. Habet foenum in cornu. They are all .”
“The doctor was a too. I didn't like the look of him at the time.”
“Arcades ambo. But now we must see what we can do for you. Of course what Metaxa said was right. The pension is in itself no security at all, unless it were accompanied by a life assurance which would be an income in itself. It is no good whatever.”
His clients' faces fell.
“But there is the second alternative. You might sell the pension right out. occasionally deal in such things. I have one client, a sporting man, who would be very likely to take it up if we could agree upon terms. Of course, I must follow Metaxa's example by sending for a doctor.”
For the second time was the Admiral punched and tapped and listened to. This time, however, there could be no question of the qualifications of the doctor, a well-known Fellow of the College of Surgeons, and his report was as favorable as the other's had been .
“He has the heart and chest of a man of forty,” said he. “I can recommend his life as one of the best of his age that I have ever examined.”
“That's well,” said Mr. McAdam, making a note of the doctor's remarks, while the Admiral a second guinea. “Your price, I understand, is five thousand pounds. I can communicate with Mr. Elberry, my client, and let you know whether he cares to touch the matter. Meanwhile you can leave your pension papers here, and I will give you a receipt for them.”
“Very well. I should like the money soon.”
“That is why I am retaining the papers. If I can see Mr. Elberry to-day we may let you have a cheque to-morrow. Try another pinch. No? Well, good-bye. I am very happy to have been of service.” Mr. McAdam bowed them out, for he was a very busy man, and they found themselves in the street once more with hearts than when they had left it.
“Well, Westmacott, I am sure I am very much obliged to you,” said the Admiral. “You have stood by me when I was the better for a little help, for I'm clean out of my soundings among these city sharks. But I've something to do now which is more in my own line, and I need not trouble you any more.”
“Oh, it is no trouble. I have nothing to do. I never have anything to do. I don't suppose I could do it if I had. I should be delighted to come with you, sir, if I can be of any use.”
“No, no, my lad. You go home again. It would be kind of you, though, if you would look in at number one when you get back and tell my wife that all's well with me, and that I'll be back in an hour or so.”
“All right, sir. I'll tell her.” Westmacott raised his hat and strode away to the , while the Admiral, after a hurried lunch, his steps towards the east.
It was a long walk, but the old swung along at a rousing pace, leaving street after street behind him. The great business places down into commonplace shops and , which decreased and became more , even as the folk who filled them did, until he was deep in the evil places of the eastern end. It was a land of huge, dark houses and of gin-shops, a land, too, where life moves irregularly and where adventures are to be gained—as the Admiral was to learn to his cost.
He was hurrying down one of the long, narrow, stone-flagged lanes between the double lines of , disheveled women and of dirty children who sat on the hollowed steps of the houses, and in the autumn sun. At one side was a barrowman with a load of , and beside the barrow a bedraggled woman with a black fringe and a chequered shawl thrown over her head. She was cracking walnuts and picking them out of the shells, throwing out a remark occasionally to a rough man in a rabbit-skin cap, with under the knees of his corduroy trousers, who stood a black clay pipe with his back against the wall. What the cause of the quarrel was, or what sharp from the woman's lips suddenly through that thick skin may never be known, but suddenly the man took his pipe in his left hand, leaned forward, and struck her across the face with his right. It was a slap rather than a blow, but the woman gave a sharp cry and up against the barrow with her hand to her cheek.
“You infernal !” cried the Admiral, raising his stick. “You and blackguard!”
“Garn!” the rough, with the deep rasping of a . “Garn out o' this or I'll——” He took a step forward with uplifted hand, but in an instant down came cut number three upon his wrist, and cut number five across his , and cut number one full in the center of his rabbit-skin cap. It was not a heavy stick, but it was strong enough to leave a good red weal wherever it fell. The rough yelled with pain, and rushed in, hitting with both hands, and kicking with his ironshod boots, but the Admiral had still a quick foot and a true eye, so that he bounded and sideways, still raining a shower of blows upon his savage . Suddenly, however, a pair of arms closed round his neck, and glancing backwards he caught a glimpse of the black coarse fringe of the woman whom he had befriended. “I've got him!” she . “I'll 'old 'im. Now, Bill, knock the out of him!” Her grip was as strong as a man's, and her wrist pressed like an iron bar upon the Admiral's throat. He made a desperate effort to disengage himself, but the most that he could do was to swing her round, so as to place her between his and himself. As it proved, it was the very best thing that he could have done. The rough, half-blinded and maddened by the blows which he had received, struck out with all his ungainly strength, just as his partner's head swung round in front of him. There was a noise like that of a stone hitting a wall, a deep , her grasp relaxed, and she dropped a dead weight upon the pavement, while the Admiral sprang back and raised his stick once more, ready either for attack or . Neither were needed, however, for at that moment there was a of the crowd, and two police , burly and helmeted, pushed their way through the . At the sight of them the rough took to his heels, and was instantly screened from view by a veil of his friends and neighbors.
“I have been assaulted,&rdquo............