Part 22 (1/2)

”Mr. Dimsdale has been down to her this morning, sir. They're getting the things out fast. He wants to call attention to the state of the vessel, Mr. Girdlestone. He says that it's making water even in dock, and that some of the hands say that they won't go back in her.”

”Tut! tut!” John Girdlestone said peevishly. ”What are the Government inspectors for? There is no use paying them if we are to inspect ourselves. If they insist upon any alterations they shall be made.”

”They were there, sir, at the same time as Mr. Dimsdale,” said Gilray, diffidently.

”Well, what then?” asked his employer.

”He says, sir, that the inspectors went down to the cabin and had some champagne with Captain Spender. They then professed themselves to be very well satisfied with the state of the vessel and came away.”

”There you are!” the senior partner cried triumphantly. ”Of course these men can see at a glance how things stand, and if things had really been wrong they would have called attention to it. Let us have no more of these false alarms. You must say a few words on the point to Mr.

Dimsdale, as coming from yourself, not from me. Tell him to be more careful before he jumps to conclusions.”

”I will, sir.”

”And bring me ledger No. 33.”

Gilray stretched up his arm and took down a fat little ledger from a high shelf, which he laid respectfully before his employer.

Then, seeing that he was no longer wanted, he withdrew.

Ledger No. 33 was secured by a clasp and lock--the latter a patent one which defied all tamperers. John Girdlestone took a small key from his pocket and opened it with a quick snap. A precious volume this, for it was the merchant's private book, which alone contained a true record of the financial state of the firm, all others being made merely for show.

Without it he would have been unable to keep his son in the dark for so many months until bitter necessity at last compelled him to show his hand.

He turned the pages over slowly and sadly. Here was a record of the sums sunk in the Lake Tanganyika Gold Company, which was to have paid 33 per cent., and which fell to pieces in the second month of its existence. Here was the money advanced to Durer, Hallett, & Co., on the strength of securities which proved to be the flimsiest of insecurities when tested. Further on was the account of the dealings of the firm with the Levant Petroleum Company, the treasurer of which had levanted with the greater part of the capital. Here, too, was a memorandum of the sums sunk upon the _Evening Star_ and the _Providence_, whose unfortunate collision had well-nigh proved the death blow of the firm.

It was melancholy reading, and perhaps the last page was the most melancholy of all. On it the old man had drawn up in a condensed form an exact account of the present condition of the firm's finances.

Here it is exactly word for word as he had written it down himself.

GIRDLESTONE & CO.

October 1876 Debit. Credit.

Pounds Sterling Pounds Sterling Debts incurred previous to

Ezra, in Africa, holds disclosure to Ezra 34000

this money with which 15000 pounds raised at six

to speculate. 35000 months, and 20000 pounds

Balance in bank, at nine months 35000

including what remains Interest on said money at

of Dimsdale's premium. 8400 5 per cent. 1125

Profit on the cargo of Working expenses of the

_Maid of Athens_, now firm during the next six

in port. 2000 months, including cost of

Profit on the cargoes s.h.i.+ps, at 150 pounds per

of _Black Eagle_,_Swan_ week 3900

and _Panther_, calculated Private expenses at

at the same rate. 6000 Ecclestone Square, say 1000

Deficit 26425 Expenses of Langworthy

in Russia, and of my dear

son in Africa, say 600

Insurances 1200

Total 76825

Total 76825

All this money must be found within

The possibility of the sinking nine months at the outside.

of a s.h.i.+p must not be