It was very unfortunate that the whole establishment stood in unaffected awe of the redoubted Mr Bellamy.  Allcraft, notwithstanding his knowledge of the man, and his previous attack upon his character, was not, at this moment, free from the fascination; and at the eleventh hour he found it difficult to withdraw entirely his confidence in Mr Bellamy’s ultimate desire and capability to deal honorably and justly by him.  Much of the Mogul’s power was unquestionably derived from his massive physique; but his chief excellence lay in that peculiar off-hand, patronizing, take-it-for-granted air, which he made it a point to assume towards every individual with whom he came in contact.  He had scarcely requested a few minutes’ private conversation with Allcraft, before Planner and Brammel jumped involuntarily from their seats, as if in obedience to a word of command, and edged towards the door.

“If you please,” continued Mr Bellamy, nodding to them very graciously; and they departed.  In the course of ten minutes they were recalled by the autocrat himself.  The gentlemen resumed their seats, and this time, Mr Bellamy addressed them.

“You see, my dear sirs,” he began with, for him, peculiar gentleness, “it is absolutely necessary to provide against the immediate exigency, and to postpone all discussion on the past, until this is met, and satisfactorily disposed of.”

“Certainly!” said Augustus Brammel, who, for his part, never wished to talk or think about the past again.  “Certainly.  Hear, hear!  I agree to that”—­

“I knew you would, dear Mr Brammel—­a gentleman of your discretion would not fail to do so.”

Augustus looked up at Mr Bellamy to find if he were jeering him; but he saw no reason to believe it.

“Such being the case,” continued the worthy speaker; “it behoves us now to look about for some assistance.  Our friend, Mr Allcraft, I am sorry to say, does not feel disposed to help us once more through the pressure.  I am very sorry to say so.  Perhaps he will think better of it, (Allcraft shook his head.) Ah; just so.  He desponds a little now.  He takes the dark side of things.  For my own part, I prefer the bright.  He believes, as you have heard, that we are on the verge of bankruptcy.  Upon my honour as a gentleman, I really can believe in no such thing.  There is a general gloom over the mercantile world; it will break off in time; and we, with the rest of mankind, shall pass into the sunshine.”

“Hear, hear!” exclaimed Augustus Brammel; “that’s the way to look at things!”

“Taking it for granted, then—­which, positively, I an not inclined to do; for really, Mr Allcraft, it is against your interest not to help us in this emergency—­but, however, taking it, I say, for granted, that our friend here will not succour us—­it appears to me, that only one legitimate course is open to us.  If we are refused at home, let us apply for aid as near our home as possible.  There are our London friends”—­