When he reached Bathurst his purse was very low, and he had a good many more miles to go, and not feeling quite sure of his welcome he did not care to be penniless, so he went round the town with his advertising-board and very soon was painting doors in Bathurst.  He found the natives stingier here than in Sydney, and they had a notion a traveler like him ought to work much cheaper than an established man; but still he put by something every day.

He had been three days in the town when a man stepped up to him as he finished a job and asked him to go home with him.  The man took him to a small but rather neat shop, plumber’s, glazier’s and painter’s.

“Why, you don’t want me,” said Robinson; “we are in the same line of business.”

“Step in,” said the man.  In a few words he let Robinson know that he had a great bargain to offer him.  “I am going to sell the shop,” said he.  “It is a business I never much fancied, and I had rather sell it to a stranger than to a Bathurst man, for the trade have offended me.  There is not a man in the colony can work like you, and you may make a little fortune here.”

Robinson’s eyes sparkled a moment, then he replied, “I am too poor to buy a business.  What do you want for it?”

“Only sixty pounds for the articles in the shop and the good will and all.”

“Well, I dare say it is moderate, but how am I to find sixty pounds?”

“I’ll make it as light as a feather.  Five pounds down.  Five pounds in a month; after that—­ten pounds a month till we are clear.  Take possession and sell the goods and work the good-will on payment of the first five.”

“That is very liberal,” said Robinson.  “Well, give me till next Thursday and I’ll bring you the first five.”

“Oh, I can’t do that; I give you the first offer, but into the market it goes this evening, and no later.”

“I’ll call this evening and see if I can do it.”  Robinson tried to make up the money, but it was not to be done.  Then fell a terrible temptation upon him.  Handling George Fielding’s letter with his delicate fingers, he had satisfied himself there was a bank-note in it.  Why not borrow this bank-note?  The shop would soon repay it.  The idea rushed over him like a flood.  At the same moment he took fright at it.  “Lord, help me!” he ejaculated.

He rushed to a shop, bought two or three sheets of brown paper and a lot of wafers.  With nimble fingers he put the letter in one parcel, that parcel in another, that in another, and so on till there were a dozen envelopes between him and the irregular loan.  This done he confided the grand parcel to his landlord.

“Give it me when I start.”

He went no more near the little shop till he had made seven pounds; then he went.  The shop and business had been sold just twenty-four hours.  Robinson groaned.  “If I had not been so very honest!  Never mind.  I must take the bitter with the sweet.”