Part 24 (1/2)
”Yes; now you may take up the urn.”
We had finished our breakfast, when Timothy announced Mr Emmanuel, who followed him into the room. ”Well, Old Cent per Cent, how are you?”
said the major. ”Allow me to introduce my most particular friend, Mr Newland.”
”Auh! Master Major,” replied the descendant of Abraham, a little puny creature, bent double with infirmity, and carrying one hand behind his back, as if to counterbalance the projection of his head and shoulders.
”You vash please to call me Shent per Shent. I wish I vash able to make de monies pay that. Mr Newland, can I be of any little shervice to you?”
”Sit down, sit down, Emmanuel. You have my warrant for Mr Newland's respectability, and the sooner we get over the business the better.”
”Auh, Mr Major, it ish true, you was recommend many good--no, not always good--customers to me, and I was very much obliged. Vat can I do for your handsome young friend? De young gentlemen always vant money; and it is de youth which is de time for de pleasure and enjoyment.”
”He wants a thousand pounds, Emmanuel.”
”Dat is a large sum--one tousand pounds! he does not vant any more?”
”No,” replied I, ”that will be sufficient.”
”Vell, den, I have de monish in my pocket. I will just beg de young gentleman to sign a little memorandum, dat I may von day receive my monish.”
”But what is that to be?” interrupted I.
”It will be to promise to pay me my monish and only fifteen per shent, when you come into your own.”
”That will not do,” replied I; ”I have pledged my solemn word of honour, that I will not borrow money on interest.”
”And you have given de pledge, but you did not swear upon de book?”
”No, but my word has been given, and that is enough; if I would forfeit my word with those to whom I have given it, I would also forfeit my word with you. My keeping my promise, ought to be a pledge to you that I wilt keep my promise to you.”
”Dat is vell said--very vell said; but den we must manage some oder way.
Suppose--let me shee--how old are you, my young sir?”
”Past twenty.”
”Auh, dat is a very pleasant age, dat twenty. Vell, den, you shall s.h.i.+gn a leetle bit of paper, that you pay me 2000 pounds ven you come into your properties, on condition dat I pay now one tousand. Dat is very fair--ish it not Mr Major?”
”Rather too hard, Emmanuel.”
”But de rishque--de rishque, Mr Major.”
”I will not agree to those terms,” replied I; ”you must take your money away, Mr Emmanuel.”
”Vell, den--vat vill you pay me?”
”I will sign an agreement to pay you 1500 pounds for the thousand, if you please; if that will not suit you, I will try elsewhere.”
”Dat is very bad bargain. How old, you shay?”