y daughter to such. It is true
I am a more thoroughly penniless man than he, for these villains have
robbed me and Aileen of our rings, chains, and watches, on which I
counted a good deal,--alas! But _that_ does not mend matters. It makes
them rather worse. No, it must not be! My child's interests must be
considered even before gratitude. I _must_ be firm."

Thought is wondrously rapid. Mr Hazlit thought all that and a great
deal more during the brief passage from the companion-hatch to the
stern-rail.

"I wish to ask you to do me a favour, Mr Hazlit," the young man began.

The merchant looked at him with a troubled expression.

"Mr Berrington, you have been the means of saving our lives. It would
be ungrateful in me to refuse you any favour that I can, _with
propriety_, grant."

"I am aware," continued Edgar, "that you have--have--met with losses.
That your circumstances are changed--"

Mr Hazlit coloured and drew himself proudly up.

"Be not offended, my dear sir," continued the youth earnestly; "I do not
intrude on private matters--I would not dare to do so. I only speak of
what I saw in English newspapers in Hong-Kong just before I left, and
therefore refer to what is generally known to all. And while I
sincerely deplore what I know, I would not presume to touch on it at all
were I not certain that the pirates must have robbed you of all you
possess, and that you must of necessity be in want of _present_ funds.
I also know that _some_ of a man's so-called `friends' are apt to fall
off and fail him in the time of financial difficulty. Now, the favour I
ask is that you will consider me--as indeed I am--one of your true
friends, and accept of a loan of two or three hundred pounds--"

"Impossible, sir,--im--it is very kind of you--very, Mr Berrington--
but, impossible," said Mr Hazlit, struggling between kindly feeling and
hurt dignity.

"Nay, but," pleaded Edgar, "I only offer you a loan. Besides, I want to
benefit myself," he added, with a smile. "The fact is, I have made a
little money in a diving venture, which I and some others undertook to
these seas, and I receive no interest for it just now. If you would
accept of a few hundreds--what you require for present necessities--you
may have them at three or five per cent. I would ask more, but that,
you know, would be usurious!"

Still the fallen merchant remained immovable. He acknowledged Edgar's
pleasantry about interest with a smile, but