He at once sized up Mr. John
Purdie for what he was--a well-to-do, well-dressed, active-brained young
business man, probably accustomed to controlling and dealing with
important affairs. And well satisfied with this preliminary inspection,
he immediately plunged into the affair of the moment.
"Mister," began Melky, pulling up a chair to Purdie's side, and assuming a
tone and manner of implicit confidence. "I've heard of you. Me and Mr.
Lauriston's close friends. My name's Mr. Rubinstein--Mr. Melchior
Rubinstein, commonly called Melky. I know all about you--you're the friend
that Lauriston asked for a bit of help to see him through, like--ain't it?
Just so--and you sent him twenty pounds to be going on with--which he got,
all right, last night. Also, same time, he got another twenty quid for
two of his lit'ry works--stories, mister. Mister!--I wish he'd got your
money and the other money just an hour before it come to hand! S'elp me!--
if them there letters had only come in by one post earlier, it 'ud ha'
saved a heap o' trouble!"
"I haven't the remotest notion of what you're talking about, you know,"
said Purdie good-naturedly.
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