The Argosy — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

246 Edina. Charles was slowly pacing Fleet Street, wondering where he could go next, what do. A situation, advertised in that morning’s paper in flaming colours, had brought him up, post haste. As usual, it turned out a failure: to be successful, the applicant must put down fifty pounds in cash. So, that chance was gone: and there was Charles, uncertain, hungry, miserable. “Halloa, Raynor! Is it you?” A young stripling about his own age had run against him. At the first moment Charles did not know him, but recollection flashed on his mind. It was Peter Tanting: a lad who had been a schoolfellow of his in Somersetshire. ‘*T am going to get my dinner,” said Tanting, after a few sentences had passed. “ Will you come and take some with me?” Too thankful for the offer, Charles followed him into the Rainbow. And over the viands they grew confidential. Tanting was in a large printing and publishing establishment close by ; his brother Fred was at a solicitor’s, nearly out of his articles, “Fred's ill,” observed Peter. ‘He thinks it must be the fogs of this precious London that affect him; and I think sotoo. Any way, he coughs frightfully and has had to give up for a day or two. I went to his office this morning to say he was in bed with a plaster on his chest, and a fine way they were in at hearing it; wanting him to go whether or not. One of their copying clerks has left ; and they can’t hear of another all in a hurry.” “I wonder whether I should suit them?” spoke Charles on the spur of the moment, a flush rising to his face and a light to his eyes. “ You!” cried Peter Tanting, And then Charles, encouraged perhaps by the good cheer, told a little of his history to Tanting, and why he must get a situation of some sort that would bring in its returns. Tanting, an open-hearted, country-bred lad, became all eagerness to help him, and offered to introduce him to the solicitors’ firm there and then. “Ttis near the Temple; almost close by,” said he: “ Prestleigh and Preen. A good firm: one of the best in London. Let us go at once.” Charles accompanied him to the place. Had he been aware that this same legal firm counted Mr. George Atkinson among its clients, he might have declined to try to enter it. It used to be Callard and Prestleigh. But old Mr. Callard had died very soon after Frank held the interview with him that was told of: now it was Prestleigh and Preen. Peter Tanting introduced Charles to the managing clerk, Mr. Stroud. Mr. Stroud, a very tall man wearing silver-rimmed spectacles, with iron gtey hair and a crabbed sort of manner, put some questions to Charles, aad then told him to sit down and wait. Mr. Prestleigh was in He private room; but it would not do to trouble him with ‘these matter : comicbooks.com