"By God!" cried Bendale, in tone so deep and solemn that the ejaculation sounded like an invocation, rather than an oath, "I am with you heart and soul. I will do exactly what you tell me to do."
"That's all right," said Stranleigh, taking out his cheque-book. "Here are five thousand pounds. Place this amount in your bank as soon as it opens to-morrow, and my advice is that you spend the rest of the night, if necessary, in writing cheques which you will post to every man to whom you owe a penny. I wish you to begin work to-morrow clear of debt, and if the five thousand does not cover your liabilities, you may draw on me from your future profits such a sum as is necessary. And now I shall take myself off, Mr. Bendale. I must not be seen any longer in this locality. Our future conferences will be held at my house. Here is the address, with my telephone number. Good-night, Mr. Bendale. You have cheered me up more than you imagine. I feel that I have made the best of all discoveries—the finding of a capable man. That naturally flatters me and stimulates my self-esteem."
There are two earthquakes in London every year that shake a certain section of society to its foundations. These are the semi-annual sales, when goods are being lavished on the public at apparently a tithe of their value. These earthquakes are especially active in the "rag trade," as the drapery business is irreverently called by
