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at a table some slightly removed distance away； lowered his head and
abandoned himself to a display of most lavish dejection。
〃That poor cuss doesn't appear to be holiday…making；〃 remarked the
sincerely…compassionate person at my side； after closely observing the
other for a period； and then； moved by the overpowering munificence of
his inward nature； he called aloud； 〃Say； stranger； you seem to have
got it thickly in the neck。 Is it family affliction or the whisky of
the establishment？〃
At these affably…intentioned words the stranger raised his eyes
quickly； with an indication of not having up to that time been aware
of our presence。
〃Sir；〃 he exclaimed； approaching to a spot where he could converse
with a more enhanced facility； 〃when I loosened the restraint of an
overpowering if unmanly grief； I imagined that I was alone； for I
would have shunned even the most flattering sympathy； but your
charitably…modulated voice invites confidence。 The one before you is
the most contemptible； left…handed； and disqualified outcast in
creation； and he is now making his way towards the river； while his
widow will be left to take in washing； his infant son to vend evening
printed leaves； and his graceful and hitherto highly secluded
daughters to go upon the stage。〃
〃Say； stranger；〃 interposed this person； by no means unwilling to
engrave upon his memory this newly…acquired form of greeting； 〃the
emotion is doubtless all…pressing； but in my ornate and flower…laden
tongue we have a salutation； 'Slowly； slowly； walk slowly；' which
seems to be of far…seeing application。〃
〃That's so；〃 remarked the one by my side。 〃Separate it with the teeth；
inch by inch。〃
〃I will be calm； then；〃 continued the other （who； to avoid the
complication of the intermingling circumstances； may be described as
the more stranger of the two）； and he took of his neckcloth。 〃I am a
merchant in tea； yellow fat； and mixed spices； in a small but hitherto
satisfactory way。〃 Thus revealing himself； he continued to set forth
how at an earlier hour he had started on a journey to deposit his
wealth （doubtless as a propitiation of outraged deities） upon a
certain bank； and how； upon reaching the specified point； he
discovered that what he carried had eluded his vigilance。 〃All gone：
notes； gold； and pocket…bookthe savings of a lifetime；〃 concluded
the ill…omened one； and at the recollection a sudden and even more
highly…sustained frenzy of self…unpopularity involving him； without a
pause he addressed himself by seven and twenty insulting expressions；
many of which were quite new to my understanding。
At the earliest mention of the details affecting the loss； the elbow
of the person who had made himself responsible for the financial
obligation of the day propelled itself against my middle part； and
unseen by the other he indicated to me by means of his features that
the entertainment was becoming one of agreeable prepossession。
〃Now； touching this hyer wallet；〃 he said presently。 〃How might you
describe it？〃
〃In colour it was red； and within were two compartments； the one
containing three score notes each of ten pounds； the other fifty
pounds of gold。 But what's the use of describing it？ Some lucky demon
will pick it up and pocket the lot； and I shall never see a cent of it
again。〃
〃Then you'd better consult one who reburnishes the eyes；〃 declared
the magnanimous one with a laugh； and drawing forth the article
referred to he cast it towards the merchant in a small way。
At this point of the narrative my thoroughly incompetent brush
confesses the proportions of the requirement to be beyond its most
extended limit； and many very honourable details are necessarily left
without expression。
〃I've known men of all sorts； good； bad； and bothwise；〃 exclaimed the
one who had recovered his possessions； 〃but I never thought to meet a
gent as would hand over six hundred and fifty pounds as if it was a
toothpick。 Sir； it overbalances me； it does； indeed。〃
〃Say no more about it；〃 urged the first person； and to suggest
gracefully that the incident had reached its furthest extremity； he
began to set out the melody of an unspoken verse。
〃I will say no more； then；〃 he replied； 〃but you cannot reasonably
prevent my doing something to express my gratitude。 If you are not too
proud you will come and partake of food and wine with me beneath the
sign of the Funereal Male Cow； and to show my confidence in you I
shall insist upon you carrying my pocket…book。〃
The person whom I had first encountered suffered his face to become
excessively amused。 〃Say； stranger； do you take me for a pack…mule？〃
he replied good…naturedly。 〃I already have about as much as I want to
handle。 Never mind； we'll come along with you； and Mr。 Kong shall
carry your bullion。〃
At this delicate and high…minded proposal a rapid change； in no way
complimentary to my explicit habit of adequately conducting any
venture upon which I may be engaged； came over the face of the second
person。
〃Sir；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I have nothing to say against this gentleman；
but I am under no obligation to him； and I don't see why I should
trust him with everything I possess。〃
〃Stranger；〃 exclaimed the other rising to his feet （and from this
point it must be understood that the various details succeeded one
another with a really agile dexterity）； 〃let me tell you that Mr。 Kong
is my friend； and that ought to be enough。〃
〃It is。 If you say this gentleman is your friend； and that you have
known him long and intimately enough to be able to answer for him；
that's good enough for me。〃
〃Well；〃 admitted the first person； and I could not conceal from myself
that his tone was inauspiciously reluctant； 〃I can't exactly say that
I've known him long； in fact I only met him half an hour ago。 But I
have the fullest confidence in his integrity。〃
〃It's just as I expected。 Well； sir； you're good…natured enough for
anything； but if you'll excuse me； I must say that you're a small
piece of an earthenware vessel after all〃the veiled allusion
doubtlessly being that the vessel of necessity being broken； the
contents inevitably escape〃and I hope you're not being had。〃
〃I'm not； and I'll prove it before we go out together；〃 retorted the
engaging one； who had in the meantime become so actively impetuous on
my account； that he did not remain content with the spoken words； but
threw the various belongings about as he mentioned them in a really
profuse display of inimitable vehemence。 〃Here； Kong； take this hyer
pocket…book whatever he says。 Now on the top of that take everything
I've got； and you know what THAT figures up to。 Now give this
gentleman your little lot to keep him quiet； I don't ask for anything。
Now； stranger； I'm ready。 You and I will take a stroll round the block
and back again； and if Mr。 Kong isn't waiting here for us when we
return with everything intact and O。K。； I'll double your deposit and
never trust a durned soul again。〃
Nodding genially over his shoulder with a harmonious understanding；
expressive of the fact that we were embarking upon an undeniably
diverting episode； the benevolent…souled person who had accumulated
more riches than he was competent to melt away himself； passed out；
urging the doubtful and still protesting one before him。
Thus abandoned to my own reflections； I pondered for a short time
profitably on the third head of the day's meditation （Touching the
match and this person's unattractively…lined face。 The revealed truth：
the inexperienced sheep cannot pass through the hedge without leaving
portions of his wool）； and then finding the philosophy of Wei Chung
very good； I determined to remove the superfluous apprehensions of the
vender of food…stuffs with less delay by setting out and meeting them
on their return。
A few paces distant from the door； one of the ever…present watchers of
the street was standing； watching the street with unremitting
vigilance； while from the well…guarded expression of his face it might
nevertheless be gathered that he stood as though in expectation。
〃Prosperity；〃 I said； with seasonable greeting。 （For no excess of
consideration is too great to be lavished upon these； who unite within
themselves the courage of a hi