The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

THE GATHERING STORM 159 continued. ‘‘ You shall go around collecting the small sums that are due, and I will get in the large amounts. I think in the course of the day we may manage to do this, and then we shall be able to make up our books so as to see correctly how matters stand and settle the habilities that are most pressing. And then,’’ added Emmerson, assuming an air of proud assurance, which Heaven knows he did not feel in his heart, ‘‘ I shall get a loan of twenty or thirty thousand from my bankers to answer my purposes until other moneys begin to flow in again.”’ ‘Tf you will give me a list, sir, of the persons who owe small sums, I will go around at once,” said Varian. ‘Here is a list which I have already made out,” said Emmerson, and he handed his clerk a piece of paper. Theodore then sallied forth, inwardly chuckling at the thought that the hour of his vengeance was approaching, for he had not the slightest deficulty in penetrating the design of his master. On the contrary, he saw plainly enough that Emmerson was endeavouring to “‘ make up a purse ’’ wherewith to flee from the country, and he resolved to apply the spark to the train of combustibles that were now ready to explode around him. Mr. Emmerson also sallied forth, but it was not, as he had alleged, to collect any large sums. He wished to Heaven that there were any such sums which he was able to collect at all. But he went forth to keep up appearances with Varian, and likewise to avoid the duns who were calling every quarter of an hour at his office. In his desperation, however, he resolved as a last resource to call upon two or three wealthy friends with whom he had been accustomed to have large transactions, but whom he now found inac- cessible to his demands and his representations. Vainly did he assure them that ‘‘ there was a most excellent oppor- tunity of investing a few thousands at twenty per cent., if they liked to go shares with him in the enterprise and advance a part of the capital.” They refused him in a manner which as plainly as possible told him that they would not entrust their funds in his hands, and though he endeavoured to ride the high horse, he nevertheless went forth from their counting-houses crestfallen and downcast. _ He returned to his office at about four o’clock, and found that Varian had already come back. Yes, the young man cS (C(O) im CORNICLO©