The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 84: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

78 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED, He was seen rushing from place to place, making all manner of inquiries regarding the ‘‘ soundnc3s”’ of the London Insurance Office, but his fears were dispelled by the universal good opinion which pre- vailed in commercial circles concerning it. “Pooh! pooh, man !” was the general expression. *Sir Andrew is all right. Bless you, it is as safe as the bank. Why, that office is worth any amount of money !” The executors of Mr. Redgill, senior, were not long, of course, in presenting their “policies” for adjustment at the insurance office. But. Sir ‘Andrew was ‘‘out of town, and was not expected to return for several days ; but upon his return all just claims would be settled,” said the clerk. Mr. Moss, as one of those principally interested, felt comforted, and awaited Sir Andrew’s return with recomposed feelings, but kot impatience. When the affairs of the ‘‘ London Insurance Com- pany’ were examined commercial circles were greatly surprised to find it unable to meet the heavy loss which had unexpectedly fallen upon it by the wreck of the vessels, and that, far from being able to pay £500,000 to the estate of Mr, Redgill, ‘deceased, it was not possessed of more than a fiftieth part of that sum. In truth, at the time in which these events occurred, the latter part of the merry monarch’s reiga, the London money market was in a very unsafe, unsettled condition, and. commerce was trembling on the brink of ruin from inflated currency, wild speculation, and general distrust. Leading men had predicted the inevitability of “a general smash’ should things thus continue, yet none were, of course, able to divine in which direction the storm might first break out. When it’ was known on ’Change, therefore, that Sir; Andrew’s office was unable to meet its liabilities many raised their hands and eyes. in wonder, and exclaimed— »»‘‘ Who'd a believed it?” This was poor consolation to old Moss the Jew, and other persons interested in the settlement of Mr. Redgill’s affairs. With a stooping gait, shrivelled face and hands, old Moss journeyed to and fro in an undeniable state of despair, and was in such a rage that he ordered his agent to turn every poor devil out of his numerous tenements who had not paid every farthing of their rents. Sitting in his lonely, dirty office, without fire, or comfort of any kind, he gathered himself into a heap in a large, old arm-chair, and looked like some wild animal in wait for its prey. Hour after hour he there sat, thinking of the past, and cursing every one in any way connected with his losses. He cursed both the living and the dead, with an earnestness and an enthusiasm which greatly relieved his pent-up feelings, To such an extent had his loss preyed upon him, that his face had become like a livid corpse. He stalked through his dusty, dingy offices like one possessed, by the devil, and when an unfortunate servant poked in her head from the back room, to ask a question, Moss raised a heavy ledger with great energy, and threw it at her. “So Sir Andrew has returned to town again, has he? Ha, ha! Oh, he’s a nice gentleman—the intended father-in-law of that young vagabond, Redgill, eh ? I see the scheme! No wonder the insurance office couldn’t pay its lawful debts! I know what their plans are, I'll go and see him. I will see him ; he can’t fool me,oldasIam,. I'll tell aa him what I think of him, Ill have my money, or V’ll see why!” curs2d old Moss, walking about like a maniac. The furious old Jew put oa his tattered overcoat, buttoned it up to the throat, and with a good thick stick in his hand, trudged off towards Sir Andrew’s residence. The servant sail his master was engaged, and could not be seen. Mr. Moss would take no denial. He would see him, and without further ceremony fiourished his stick at the fuotman’s heal, and made his way up-stairs to the library. As he stood at the door, he heard the sounds of several voices, high in oath and angry altercation. He entered quietly, took a seat near the door, and, fiading the gentlemen to be creditors like him- self, soon took part in their grievances, and opened an extra broadside of abuse upon the unfortunate Sir Andrew McTurk. Sir Andrew, in his easy chair, one leg oyer the _ other, played with his watch-chain and seals in the coolest manner imaginable, This was one of those occasions in life which “try maen’s souls,” and call forth their Christian virtues in bold relief against the revilings of an angry audience, Sir Andrew’s resignation and Christian forbear- ance was extraordinary. He even smiled, as one after another of Mr. Redgill’s creditors grew red in the face, struck the table, and told what they thought of him. Old Moss, the Jew, was “sitting on thorns,” for he was very uneasy in his chair. He at last arose, and, approaching the Christian and martyr-like Sir Andrew, he flourished his clenched fist in the face of that meek and smiling gentleman, and said, “Tl tell you what J think about you, Sir Andrew McTurk—you are a d—d rogue, sir! and the whole lot of you are a gang of thieves, and ought to be hung, if there was any justice in the world.” With wonderful forbearance, Sir Andrew listened to all these personal compliments, but at last said, with much mildness, “ Really, gentlemen, I cannot understand ail this! I owe you nothing ; neither does the late compaay, of which I, unfortunately, was president. You had better present your claims to the executors of Mr. Redgill’s estate. They are the proper persons to whom you shouldapply. Ihave nothing to do with all this. *“ The London Insurance Company certainly closed their doors very suddenly, but I was out of town at the time, and only heard of it by letter. We have had very extensive losses of late, but, had I any capital, it would have given me infinite pleasure to meet all claims—it would, I assure you ! “In truth, I make the humiliating confession to you, gentlemen, despite your angry and unjust accusations, that I, personally, haye not one penny in the world ! “ Were it not for some funds, which I cannot legally touch, owned by my wife’s sister—”’ Mr, Moss groaned very audibly at the words “ my wife’s sister.” “On deposit at the South Sea Bank, we should not be worth a fraction, and would be all turned out into the streets | “ But, my dear friends, why do you come to me about these affairs? I have nothing to do with thena.”’ All this was said with a faint smile, which was like wormwood to all present. Mr, Moss, who flounced about the apartment like Gom GEhoo cS (C(O)