A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 14: what you’re looking at

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A QUEER RACE. 11 was Captain Deep, the second Mr. Brandyman, and both, I flatter myself, were rather striking poriraits. The next morning I called at Barnes & Brandyman’s office and asked to see Mr. Brandyman; for though not the head of the firm, he was its guiding spirit and presid- ing genius. A pleasant-spoken, portly, fresh-complex- loned, middle-aged gentleman, it seemed the most nat- ural thing in the world that he should wear mutton-chop whiskers and a white waistcoat, sport a big bunch of seals, be an important man in the town, and a shining sid at the Rodney Street Chapel (as I understood he Was). | He gave me acordial greeting, and after inquiring, with much seeming interest, as to my own health and that of my mother, he asked how the Oriental and Occidental was getting on.” ‘‘ As well as can be expected for a new company,” I answered, cautiously and vaguely. “You find the Niobe papers all in order, I hope?” ““ Oh, yes; the papers ””—emphasis on ‘‘ papers ”—‘“‘ ap- pear to be quite in order.” ‘<'That is all right then. When shall we send round for our check? It is a large amount to be out of. Walk- ers settled yesterday, and the other companies will set- tle to-day, I believe. All the same, there is no hurry, and if it would be more convenient next week 2 ‘You can send round for the check whenever you like, Mr. Brandyman, but ”—here I paused a moment—‘‘I — am by no means sure that you will get it.” ‘What for, I should like to know?” firing up. ‘¢ Look at this, and you will see what for. And with that I whipved out the sketch and laid it before him. IIe looked at it curiously, but when its meaning dawned on his mind (as it did very quickly) his counte- nance changed as if he had seen a Gorgon’s head. His high color gave place to a death-like pallor, the paper dropped from his trembling hand, and there was a hoarse gurgle in his throat which made me fear that he was going to have a fit. ‘You seem faint, Mr. Brandyman; drink this, and you will feel better,” I said, filling a tumbler of water from a carafe that stood on the table. COomicbooks.co