“We don’t believe nothing,” said Hart.

“Mr. Hart, you should let Mr. Scarborough speak,” said Tyrrwhit.

“Vell, let ’im speak.  Vat’s the odds?”

“I do not wish to delay you, nor to delay myself,” continued Augustus.  “I can go, and will go, at once.  But I shall not come back.  There is no good discussing this matter any longer.”

“Oh no; not the least.  Ve don’t like discussion; do ve, captain?” said Mr. Hart.  “But you ain’t the captain; is you?”

“As there seems to be no intention of signing that document, I shall go,” said Augustus.  Then Mr. Tyrrwhit took the paper, and signed it on the first line with his own name at full length.  He wrote his name to a very serious sum of money, but it was less than half what he and others had expected to receive when the sum was lent.  Had that been realized there would have been no farther need for the formalities of Gurney & Malcolmson, and that young lad must have found other work to do than the posting of circulars.  The whole matter, however, had been much considered, and he signed the document.  Mr. Hart’s name came next, but he passed it on.  “I ain’t made up my mind yet.  Maybe I shall have to call on Mr. Barry.  I ain’t just consulted my partner.”  Then the document went down to Mr. Spicer, who signed it, grinning horribly; as did also Evans & Crooke and all the others.  They did believe that was the only way in which they could get back the money they had advanced.  It was a great misfortune, a serious blow.  But in this way there was something short of ruin.  They knew that Scarborough was about to pay the money, so that he might escape a lawsuit, which might go against him; but then they also wished to avoid the necessity of bringing the lawsuit.  Looking at the matter all round, we may say that the lawyers were the persons most aggrieved by what was done on that morning.  They all signed it as they sat there,—­except Mr. Hart, who passed it on, and still wore his hat.

“You won’t agree, Mr. Hart?” said Tyrrwhit.

“Not yet I von’t,” said Hart.  “I ain’t thought it out.  I ain’t in the same boat with the rest.  I’m not afraid of my money.  I shall get that all right.”

“Then I may as well go,” said Augustus.

“Don’t be in a hurry, Mr. Scarborough,” said Tyrrwhit.  “Things of this kind can’t be done just in a moment.”  But Augustus explained that they must be done in a very few moments, if they were to be done at all.  It was not his intention to sit there in Gurney & Malcolmson’s office discussing the matter with Mr. Hart.  Notice of his intention had been given, and they might take his money or leave it.

“Just so, captain,” said Mr. Hart.  “Only I believe you ain’t the captain.  Where’s the captain now?  I see him last at Monte Carlo, and he had won a pot of money.  He was looking uncommon well after his little accident in the streets with young Annesley.”