“Oh, certainly—­certainly.”

So far, nothing was gained.  A hurried debate, as to the policy of asking a few days more on the loan, took place in the mind of Ellis.  He then said—­

“If just the same to you, it will be more convenient for me to return this money on the day after to-morrow.”

There was a slight contraction of brow on the part of Mr. A—­, who replied, rather coldly—­

“I shall want it to-day, Mr. Ellis.”

“Oh, very well—­very well,” said Ellis, hiding artfully his disappointment.  “It will be all the same.  I will send you around a check in a little while.”

As he left the store, A—­said to himself—­

“Of all things, I like to see punctuality in the matter of engagements.  The man who promises to return in an hour the money he borrows from you should keep his word to the minute.”

The failure to get a few days’ extension of time on so important a sum had the effect to dispirit Ellis a good deal.  He left the store of the merchant in a despondent mood, and was returning towards his own place of business, when he met Wilkinson.  Grasping the hand of the latter with the eagerness of one who knows, in a great extremity, that he is face to face with a real friend, he said—­

“You must help me to-day.”

“I don’t see that it is possible, Ellis,” was replied.  “What amount do you want?”

“I must have a thousand dollars.”

“So much?”

“Yes.  But where the sum is to be obtained is more than I can divine.”

“Is all to go into bank?”

“No.  Six hundred is for borrowed money.”

“To whom is the latter due?”

“I must return three hundred to A—.”

“He can do without it for a few days longer.”

“I have just seen him; but he says it must be returned to-day.”

“He does?”

“Yes.  He wants to use it.”

Wilkinson stood thoughtfully for some time.

“Can you return the sum in a week?” he then asked.

“O yes; easily.”

“Very well I’ll go and ask him to loan me three hundred for a week.  He’ll do it, I know.  You shall have the use of it for the time specified.”

“If you can get me that sum, you will place me under an everlasting obligation,” said Ellis, with more feeling than he wished to display.

Twenty minutes afterward the money was in his hands.  It had been obtained from A—­, and during the morning returned to him in payment of Ellis’s loan.

So much accomplished, Ellis turned his thoughts towards the ways and means for raising the seven hundred dollars yet required for the day’s business.  By twelve o’clock all of his borrowed money was returned; but his notes still remained in bank.  In view of the difficulties yet to be surmounted, he felt that he had erred in not making it the first business of the day to take up his notes, and thus get beyond the danger of protest.  But it was too late now for regrets to be of any avail.  Four hundred dollars must come from some quarter, or ruin was certain.