WHILE Dodd stood lowering in the doorway, he was nevertheless making a great effort to control his agitation.

At last he said in a stern but low voice, in which, however, a quick ear might detect a tremor of agitation: “I have changed my mind, sir: I want my money back.”

At this, though David’s face had prepared him, Mr. Hardie’s heart sank: but there was no help for it. He said faintly, “Certainly. May I ask ——?” and there he stopped; for it was hardly prudent to ask anything.

“No matter,” replied Dodd, his agitation rising even at this slight delay. “Come! my money! I must and will have it.”

Hardie drew himself up majestically. “Captain Dodd, this is a strange way of demanding what nobody here disputes.”

“Well, I beg your pardon,” said Dodd, a little awed by his dignity and fairness, “but I can’t help it.”

The quick, supple banker saw the slight advantage he had gained, and his mind went into a whirl. What should he do? It was death to part with this money and gain nothing by it. Sooner tell Dodd of the love affair, and open a treaty on this basis: he clung to this money like limpet to its rock; and so intense and rapid were his thoughts and schemes how to retain it a little longer, that David’s apologies buzzed in his ear like the drone of a beetle.

The latter went on to say, ‘You see, sir, it’s my children’s fortune, my boy Edward’s, and my little Julia’s: and so many have been trying to get it from me, that my blood boils up in a moment about it now. — My poor head! — You don’t seem to understand what I am saying! There then, I am a sailor; I can’t go beating and tacking like you landsmen, with the wind dead astern. The long and the short is, I don’t feel It safe here: don’t feel It safe anywhere, except in my wife’s lap. So no more words: here’s your receipt; give me my money.”

“Certainly, Captain Dodd. Call tomorrow morning at the bank, and it will be paid on demand in the regular way: the bank opens at ten o’clock.”

“No, no; I can’t wait. I should be dead of anxiety before then. Why not pay it me here and now? You took it here.”

“We receive deposits till four o’clock, but we do not disburse after three. This is the system of all banks.”

“That is all nonsense: if you are open to receive money, you are open to pay it.”

“My dear sir, if you were not entirely ignorant of business, you would be aware that these things are not done in this way. Money received is passed to account, and the cashier is the only person who can honour your draft on it. But, stop; if the cashier is in the bank, we may manage it for you yet. Skinner, run and see whether he has left: and if not, send him to me directly.” The cashier took his cue and ran out

David was silent.

The cashier speedily returned, saying, with a disappointed air, “The cashier has been gone this quarter of an hour.”

David maintained an ominous silence.

“That is unfortunate,” remarked Hardie. “But, after all, it is only till tomorrow morning. Still I regret this circumstance, sir; and I feel that all these precautions we are obliged to take m............