"If I don't
get more of the one, and less of the other, I shall try Port Natal. I
had a row with my lady at dinner-time. She thinks a paltry sovereign or
two ought to last a fellow for a month. My service to her! I just
dropped a hint of Port Natal, and left her weeping. She'll have come
to, by this evening, and behave liberally."
"But about the work, sir?" said Jenkins. "I'm sure I make it as light
for you as I possibly can. You have only had that lease, sir, all day
yesterday and to-day."
"Oh, it's not just the _amount_ of work, Jenkins," acknowledged Roland;
"it's the being tied by the leg to this horrid old office. As good work
as play, if one has to be in it. I have been fit to cut it altogether
every hour, since Arthur Channing left: for you know you are no
company, Jenkins."
"Very true, sir."
"If I could only get Arthur Channing to go with me, I'd be off
to-morrow! But he laughs at it. He hasn't got half pluck. Only fancy,
Jenkins! my coming back in a year or two with twenty thousand pounds in
my pocket! Wouldn't I give you a treat, old chap! I'd pay a couple of
clerks to do your work here, and carry you off somewhere, in spite of
old Galloway, for a six-months' holiday, where you'd get rid of that
precious cough. I _would_, Jenkins."
"You are very kind, sir--"
Jenkins was stopped by the "precious cough." It seemed completely to
rack his frame. Roland looked at him with sympathy, and just then steps
were heard to enter the passage, and a knock came to the office door.
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