Presently Dodd was invited into the manager's room.
"Leaving the country, Captain Dodd?"
"Yes, sir."
"You had better take some of your money in bills at sight on London."
"I would rather have notes, sir," faltered Dodd.
"Oh, bills by Oliveira upon Baring are just as good, even without our
endorsement. However, you can have half and half. Calcutta does but
little in English bank-notes, you know."
They gave him his money. The bills were all manifestly good. But he
recognised one of them as having just been paid in by the civilian. He
found himself somehow safe in the street clutching the cash, with one
half of his great paternal heart on fire, and the other half freezing. He
had rescued his children's fortune, but he had seen destruction graze it.
The natural chill at being scraped by peril soon passed, the triumphant
glow remained. The next sentiment was precaution: he filled with it to
the brim; he went and bought a great broad pocket-book with a key to it;
though he was on dry land,. he covered it with oiled silk against the
water; and sewed the whole thing to his flannel waistcoat, and felt for
it with his hand a hundred times a day: the fruit of his own toil, his
children's hoard, the rescued treasure he was to have the joy of bringing
home safe to the dear partner of all his joys.
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