City Sketches. 351 



Here Mr. Dunn Brown groaned audibly. 

 " What's that in the next box ?" enquired one, 

 " Can't say," replied the other. " Settling day, you know ; a waddler, 

 I suppose." 



Brown did, indeed, appear a waddler, as, flinging down sixpence, he 

 contrived to carry himself out of the coffee-room. 



As our junior partner paused to take breath at the back of the Ex- 

 change,the thought suddenly struck him whether it would not be better, 

 under all circumstances, to allow his aunt's money to fructify, how- 

 ever slowly and leisurely, in the 3 per cents. ; he postponed, therefore 

 calling upon Mr. Smale, and made the best of his way, with the best 

 of his ability, to Wood Street, there to tell his tale of disappointment, 

 and bank books closed for the dividend. 



As he entered the premises, a rather unusual scene presented 

 itself. His partner, Mr. Hookem, was engaged in high words with 

 a stranger, and in another part of the warehouse a carman was strug- 

 gling to obtain possession of two bales from their confidential porter, 

 who made but a feeble resistance. 



" Itell you,Sir," said the stranger, " these goods were sold for cash." 

 *' For cash, certainly,'' replied Hookem. "Won't you walk into 

 the counting-house, Mr. Brown?'* But Brown stirred not. 



"For cash, certainly," resumed Hookem, rubbing his whiskers, 

 Cash in fourteen days the prompt, you know, the prompt" 

 " Cash, on delivery," insisted the other, " Discount 2^ per cent." 

 " Well/' said Hookem with pleasing affability, " Mr. Storks knows 

 best. Leave the goods, and if it's all right, when my partner comes 

 in, we'll send a cheque for the amount.'' 



The stranger lifted his thumb and forefinger to his right eye, which 

 he disturbed considerably. " Will you be so kind as to look here ?" 

 " Well, Sir P 



" Do you see any thing particularly green there ?'' demanded the 

 stranger. " Come, John, away with the goods, and in a moment 

 the g-oods were hoisted into the cart, and the stranger had departed. 

 " Very extraordinary this," remarked Mr. Brown. 

 "Oh ! my dear Sir, not at all," said Hookem carelessly, "these 

 little things happen every day in business,'' and he led the way into 

 the counting-house, where, to Mr. Brown's still greater astonish- 

 ment, Mr. Storks (who had just been declared to be out) was calmly 

 seated at his desk. 



" Well, my good friend, and how have you succeeded with the 

 lady ?" demanded Storks. 



Thereupon Mr. Brown detailed his non-success, and the cause of 

 it. The partners looked not a little disappointed at this result. " It 

 can't be helped,'* said Storks, musing ll a sad pity too. But, my 

 dear Sir, you told me yesterday you were engaged this afternoon. 

 We can dispense with your attendance for to-day. Nay, I insist," 

 and in the kindest and most friendly manner imaginable Mr. Brown 

 was ejected from the counting-house. 



Mr. Dunn Brown was a gentleman who was a slow hand at suspi- 

 cion, but a sure one when he once laid hold upon it. Some of my 

 readers may be inclined to think that he had but slight reasons for 

 his doubts, but he was not of that opinion. He returned, therefore, to 

 Wood-street in about three hours. Where were Messrs, Storks and 

 Hookem ? 



