afford
she should have.

When he went out, it was with a different purpose from that of half
an hour ago. After a short search in the direction of Edgware Road, he
found a dealer in second-hand furniture, whom he requested to come as
soon as possible to the flat on a matter of business. An hour later the
man kept his appointment. Having brought him into the study, Reardon
said:

'I wish to sell everything in this flat, with a few exceptions that I'll
point out to you'.

'Very good, sir,' was the reply. 'Let's have a look through the rooms.'

That the price offered would be strictly a minimum Reardon knew well
enough. The dealer was a rough and rather dirty fellow, with the
distrustful glance which distinguishes his class. Men of Reardon's type,
when hapless enough to be forced into vulgar commerce, are doubly at a
disadvantage; not only their ignorance, but their sensitiveness, makes
them ready victims of even the least subtle man of business. To deal
on equal terms with a person you must be able to assert with calm
confidence that you are not to be cheated; Reardon was too well aware
that he would certainly be cheated, and shrank scornfully from the
higgling of the market. Moreover, he was in a half-frenzied state of
mind, and cared for little but to be done with the hateful details of
this process of ruin.

He pencilled a list of the articles he must retain for his own use; it
would of course be cheaper to take a bare room than furnished
lodgings, and every penny he could save was of importance to him. The
chair-bedstead, with necessary linen and blankets, a table, two chairs,
a looking-glass--strictly the indispensable things; no need to complete
the list. Then there were a few valuable wedding-presents, which
belonged rather to Amy than to him; these he would get packed and send
to Westbourne Park.

The dealer made his calculation, with many side-glances at the vendor.

'And what may you ask for the lot?'

'Please to make an offer.'

'Most of the things has had a good deal of wear--'

'I know, I know. Just let me hear what you will give.'

'Well, if you want a valuation, I say eighteen pound ten.'

It was more than Reardon had expected, though much less than a man who
understood such affairs would have obtained.

'That's the most you can give?'

'Wouldn't pay me to give a sixpence more. You see--'

He began to point out defects, but Reardon cut him short.

'Can you take them away at once?'

'A