City Sketches. 349 



Hookem & Co. were upright and honourable men. Who could make 

 that a question ? What could be more natural, therefore, than that 

 Mr. Dunn Brown should at once fairly and honourably place himself, 

 without reserve, in the hands of Mr. Downey ? 



The interview that took place was perfectly satisfactoriy to all par- 

 ties concerned. Nothing could be more fair, more honourable, more 

 liberal than the conduct of Messrs. Storks and Hookem upon this oc-^ 

 casion. They actually agreed, for the consideration of three thou-ahd 

 pounds, to be brought into the business by Mr. Brown, to allow him 

 a third share in the profits of that flourishing concern ! Upon every' 

 other point, also, they were most candid, most explicit ; explicit to a 

 fault, Mr. Brown thought at the time. They should, he conceived,' 

 have permitted him to learn such matters, if only to bring him into 

 habits of business. But they were men of the world, and at the : 

 same time single minded as infants. In wit they were men, in sim- 

 plicity children. They were, at all events, gentlemen every inch of 

 them. Mr. Brown was fully aware of that. 



In less than a month Mr. Dunn Brown produced his capital, which 

 was forthwith entered to his credit in the journal by Mr. Miggle ; his 

 name was likewise added to the firm, which, if possible, was rendered 

 still more respectable thereby, and things went on for a week in the 

 most prosperous manner. 



One evening, upon entering the counting house, which for one entire 

 week Mr. Brown had managed to do rather punctually, he beheld Mr. 

 Storks seated at his desk in a state of profound thought almost amount- 

 ing to utter abstraction. Mr. Brown felt that it would not be proper 

 at such a time to disturb his meditations, and remained silent. At 

 length Mr. Storks recovered from his reverie, and perceiving his junior 

 partner, came forward to salute him, which he did with an earnest but 

 slightly-melancholy pressure of the hand. Seating himself by the 

 fire, he was soon again absorbed in reflection. 



" Pshaw, pshaw, pshaw," at length went Mr. Storks, making that not- 

 to-be-written sound by which most people, at times, indicate vexation. 

 *' What a pity it is !" " May I ask what is a pity, Sir ?" enquired Mr. 

 Brown deferentially. 



" Oh! my dear Sir," replied Storks with a faint and piteous smile, 

 " this want of more enlarged capital is the very devil prevents us 

 from taking advantage of so many opportunities. Now, there's an 

 opportunity has just presented itself by which we might clear cent, per 

 cent., at least : we may never get such another chance." 



'That is indeed a pity," said Brown; " well, but, my three thou- 

 sand pounds last week" 



" Oh, gone," cried Storks promptly " gone, stay, my good 

 friend, be not alarmed it is gone for good much good; but our 

 present operation is of a much more extensive character." 



Mr. Brown began, as actively as he could, to think about some- 

 thing, although he did not precisely know what. 



" My dear Mr. Brown," said Storks, after a long pause, " do you 

 know any person who would be likely to lend us a few thousands for 

 a couple of months ? we wouldn't mind paying something handsome 

 in addition to the interest, for the accommodation ? the case, you per- 

 ceive is urgent." 



"I have an aunt," said Brown, with some hesitation, " who has a 

 considerable sum in the funds, I know ; but the old lady is remark- 

 ably particular very cautious, and I fear " 



