Part 28 (1/2)
”No, and you were precious uppish and hold-offish the other day,” said Roach, shortly
”Obliged to be careful, Mr Smith, in my profession,” said the pawnbroker, with a peculiar soods, and one don't want to get into trouble”
”Well, you needn't begin to suspect everybody ants entry don't run short of money sometimes?”
”Oh no I know they do, Mr Smith I could show you some jewellery that would open your eyes”
”And I dessay I could show you so it to you some day Who knows?”
”Glad to do business on the square any time, Mr Smith,” said the pawnbroker
”Of course you are; so's lotson now, and gents and ladies running short”
”We don't think so, Mr Smith”
”No, I suppose not,” said Roach ”I did ain after what passed”
”Only business caution, Mr Smith”
”Oh, well, if that's all, perhaps I may This was a commission; hundred pound wanted on the nail, and security worth five offered Money's coain, and my people want the security Here's the cash and interest, and the sooner I'm off the better”
”Soon done, Mr Smith,” said the pawnbroker, ”and I shall be happy to do business with you again any time” The man made some memoranda on the card, and went into a back rooht a carefully-done-up packet
”Rather I hadn't fetched it, eh?” said Roach, after having the packet opened and satisfied hiold contents were intact
”Don't you make that mistake, Mr Ses to sell, but to have them taken out and receive our interest That's the wayover the su the security in the Gladstone bag; ”but it's a free country, and people have a right to believe what they like”
”Of course, my dear sir, of course”
”Now look here,” whispered Roach; ”if there happens to be an eain with so for an advance, is it to be pro questions?”
”Prompt business, Mr Smith, with approved customers, and to any amount”
”That will do then I'll come Private and confidential, eh?”
”Private and confidential, sir Good-evening--Jobson, shut up”
”Yes, and I shut hi feeling weighty, and sought his cab, but not without looking back once or twice and choosing another way for his return
But he saw nothing to excite his suspicions of being followed, for it was not likely that the ho woman with a thickish umbrella had come from the pawnbroker's But somehow she had
An hour later, Roach's carefully-done-up parcel was denuded of its wrappings, and its golden glories were hidden in the iron plate-closet at the back of his pantry And then he ca down their people at Grosvenor Place
”Hullo! Didn't know you'd come back Got it?” said the footman
The butler nodded