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"Ah, Beverley, ive this

horribly unseasonable visit, but--under the circumstances--I felt it

my duty to--ah--to drop in on you, my dear fellow"

"What circumstances?" demanded Barnabas, a little stiffly, perhaps

"Circu our friend Barry, "what of hiers"

"By heaven, you are right, sir, though, egad! I'm only a little

previous,--eh, ly, Mr S the door with

elaborate care, ih "My friend Barrymaine is low, sir,--devilish low," he

proceeded to explain, "indeed I'm quite distressed for the poor

fellow, 'pon --in eclipse as it were, sir!"

"I fear I don't understand," said Barnabas

"Why, then--in plain words,from

an acute attack of the Jews, dammem!--a positive seizure, sir!"

"Do you mean he has been taken--for debt?"

"Precisely, o--a stab in the

dark! Nothing very atelle, only, as luck

will have it, I am daether exactly twenty-five pound ten An absurd sum, but allfriend's

behalf to ask for a trifling loan,--a pound--or say thirty shillings

would be so"

Barnabas crossed to a cabinet, unlocked a drawer, and taking thence