But he detected one
fatal flaw: "You don't say what is to become of me."
"Oh, I haven't thought of that yet."
"But do think of it, sir, that I may have the pleasure of co-operating.
It would never do for you and me to be pulling two ways, you know."
"I will not forget you," said Hardie, wincing under the chain this little
wretch held him with, and had jerked him by way of reminder.
"But surely, Skinner, you agree with me it would be a sin and a shame to
rob this honest captain of his money--for my creditors--curse them! Ah!
you are not a father. How quickly he found that out! Well, I am, and he
touched me to the quick. I love my little Jane as dearly as he loves his
Julia, every bit: and I feel for _him._ And then he put me in mind of my
own father, poor man. That seems strange, doesn't it? a sailor and a
banker. Ah! it was because they were both honest men. Yes, it was like a
wholesome flower coming into a close room, and then out again and heaving
a whiff behind was that sailor. He left the savour of Probity and
Simplicity behind, though he took the things themselves away again.
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