’Whoare"we"，doctor？’saidMrWalker。
　　’Icannotmakesuchaninquirybemyself，youknow。Isupposethebishopwouldaskmetoselecttwoorthreeotherclergymentoactwithme。That’stheusualwayofdoingit。Butyoumaybequitesureofthis，Walker；theassizeswillbeover，andthejuryhavefoundtheirverdictlongbeforewehavesettledourpreliminaries。’
　　’Andwhatwillthebethegoodofyourgoingonafterthat？’
　　’Onlythisgood：——iftheunfortunatemanbeconvicted——’
　　’Whichhewon’t’saidToogood，whothoughtitexpedienttoputonabolderfrontintalkingofthemattertotheruraldean，thanhehadassumedinhiswhisperedconversationwithMrsWalker。
　　’Ihopenot，withallmyheart，’saidthedoctor。’But，perhaps，forthesakeoftheargument，thesuppositionmaybeallowedtopass。’
　　’Certainly，sir，’saidMrToogood。’Forthesakeoftheargument，itmaypass。’
　　’Ifhebeconvicted，then，Isuppose，therewillbeanendofthequestion。Hewouldbesentencedfornotless，Ishouldsay，thantwelvemonths；andafterthat——’
　　’AndwouldbeasgoodaparsonofHogglestockwhenhecameoutofprisonaswhenhewentin，’saidMrWalker。’Theconvictionandjudgmentinacivilcourtwouldnottouchhistemporality。’
　　’Certainlynot，’saidMrToogood。
　　’Ofcoursenot，’saidthedoctor。’Weallknowthat；andintheeventofMrCrawleycomingbacktohisparishitwouldbeopentothebishoptoraisethequestionastohisfitnessfortheduties。’
　　’Whyshouldn’thebeasfitasanyoneelse？’saidMrToogood。
　　’Simplybecausehewouldhavebeenfoundguiltytobeathief，’saidthedoctor。’Youmustexcuseme，MrToogood，butit’sonlyforthesakeoftheargument。’
　　’Idon’tseewhatthathastodowithit，’saidMrToogood。’Hewouldhaveundergonehispenalty。’
　　’Itispreferablethatamanwhopreachesfromapulpitshouldnothaveundergonesuchapenalty，’saidthedoctor。’But，inpractice，undersuchcircumstances——whichwenoneofusanticipate，MrToogood——thelivingshouldnodoubtbevacated。MrCrawleywouldprobablyhardlywishtocomeback。Thejurywilldotheirworkbeforewecandoours——willdoitonmuchbetterbasethananywecanhave；and，whentheyhavedoneit，thethingoughttobefinished。Ifthejuryacquithim，thebishopcannotproceedanyfurther。Ifhebefoundguilty，Ithinkthattheresignationofthelivingmustfollow。’
　　’Itisallspite，then，onthebishop’spart？’saidthemajor。
　　’Notatall，’saidthedoctor。’Thepoormanisweak；thatisall。Heisdriventopersecutebecausehecannotescapepersecutionhimself。Butitmayreallybeaquestionwhetherhispresentproceedingisnotright。
　　IfIwereabishopIshouldwaittillthetrialwasover；thatisall。’
　　Fromthisandfrommuchmorethatwassaidduringtheeveningonthesamesubject，MrToogoodgraduallylearnedthepositionwhichMrCrawleyandthequestionofMrCrawley’sguiltreallyheldinthecounty，andhereturnedtotownresolvedtogoonwiththecase。
　　’I’llhaveabarristerdownexpress，andI’lldefendhiminhisownteeth，’hesaidtohiswife。’There’llbeasceneincourt，Idaresay，andthemanwillcalluponhisowncounseltoholdhistongueandshutuphisbrief；and，asfarasIcansee，counselinsuchacasewouldhavenoalternative。Buttherewouldcomeanexplanation——howCrawleywastoohonourabletoemployamanwhomhecouldnotpay，andtherewouldbearomance，anditwouldallgodownwiththejury。Onewantssympathyinsuchacaseasthat——notevidence。’
　　’Andhowmuchwillitcost，Tom？’saidMaria，dolefully。
　　’Onlyatrifle。Wewon’tthinkofthatyet。There’sJohnEamesisgoingallthewaytoJerusalem，outofhispocket。’
　　’ButJohnnyhasn’tgottwelvechildren，Tom。’
　　’Onedoesn’thaveacousinintroubleeveryday，’saidToogood。’Andthenyouseethere’ssomethingveryprettyinthiscase。It’squiteapleasuregettingitup。’
　　CHAPTERXLIII
　　MRCROSBIEGOESINTOTHECITY
　　’I’veknowntheCitynowformorethantenyears，MrCrosbie，andI
　　neverknewmoneytobesotightasitisatthemoment。Thebestcommercialbillsgoingcan’tbedoneundernine，andanyotherkindofpapercan’tsomuchasgetitselflookedat。’ThusspokeMrMusselboro。
　　HewasseatedinDobbsBroughton’sarm—chairinDobbsBroughton’sroominHookCourt，onthehindlegsofwhichhewasbalancinghimselfcomfortably；andhewascommunicatinghisexperienceinCitymatterstoouroldfriendAdolphusCrosbie——ofwhomwemaysurmisethathewouldnothavebeenthere，atthatmoment，inHookCourt，ifthingshadbeengoingwellwithhim。Itwasnowpasteleveno’clock，andheshouldhavebeenathisofficeattheWestEnd。Hispositioninhisofficewasnotdoubthighenoughtoplacehimbeyondthereachofanyspecialinquiryastosuchabsences；butitisgenerallyfeltthatwhentheCrosbiesoftheWestEndhavecallsintotheCityaboutnoon，thingsintheworldarenotgoingwellwiththem。ThemanwhogoesintotheCitytolookformoneyisgenerallyonewhodoesnotknowwheretogetthemoneywhenhewantsit。MrMusselboroonthisoccasionkepthishatonhishead，andtherewassomethinginthewayinwhichhebalancedhischairwhichinitselfanoffencetoMrCrosbie’spersonaldignity。ItwashardlyasyettwomonthssinceMrDobbsBroughtonhadassuredhiminthatveryroomthatthereneednotbetheslightestanxietyabouthisbill。Ofcourseitcouldberenewed——thecommissionbeingdulypaid。AsMrDobbsBroughtonexplainedonthatoccasion，thatwashisbusiness。TherewasnothinghelikedsomuchasrenewingbillsforsuchcustomersasMrCrosbie；andhewasverycandidatthatmeeting，explaininghowhedidthisbranchofhisbusiness，raisingmoneyonhisowncreditatfourorfivepercent。，andlendingitonhisownjudgmentateightornine。MrCrosbiedidnotfeelhimselfthencalledupontoexclaimthatwhathewascalledupontopaywasabouttwelve，perfectlyunderstandingthecomfortandgraceofeuphony；buthehadturneditoverinhismind，consideringwhethertwelvepercent。wasnotmorethanoughttobemulctedfortheaccommodationhewanted。Now，atthemoment，hewouldhavebeengladtogetitfromMrMusselboro，withoutfurtherwords，fortwenty。
　　ThingshadmuchchangedwithAdolphusCrosbiewhenhewasdriventomakemorningvisitstosuchaoneasMrMusselborowiththeviewofhavingabillrenewedfortwohundredandfiftypounds。Inhisearlylifehehadalwayshadthemeritofbeingacarefulmanastomoney。Insomeotherrespectshehadgoneastrayveryfoolishly——ashasbeenpartlyexplainedinourearlierchapters；butuptothedateofhismarriagewithLadyAlexandrinaDeCourcyhehadneverhaddealingsinHookCourtorinanysuchlocality。Moneytroubleshadthencomeuponhim。LadyAlexandrina，beingthedaughterofacountess，hadhighideas；andwhen，veryshortlyafterhismarriage，hehadsubmittedtoaseparationfromhisnoblewife，hehadfoundhimselfandhisincometobetiedupinextricablyinthehandsofMrMortimerGazebee，alawyerwhohadmarriedoneofhiswife’ssisters。ItwasnotthatMrGazebeewasdishonest；nordidCrosbiesuspecthimofdishonesty；butthelawyerwassoweddedtotheinterestofthenoblefamilywithwhichhewasconnected，thatheworkedforthemallasaninferiorspidermightbesupposedtowork，which，fromtheinfirmityofitsnature，wascompelledbyinstinctstobecatchingfliesforsuperiorspiders。MrMortimerGazebeehadinthiswayentangledMrCrosbieinhiswebonbehalfofthosenoblespiders，theDeCourcys，andourpoorfriend，inhisendeavourtofighthiswaythroughtheweb，hadfallenintothehandsoftheHookCourtfirmofMrsVanSiever，DobbsBroughton，andMusselboro。
　　’MrBroughtontoldmewhenIwaslasthere，’saidCrosbie，’thattherewouldbenodifficultyaboutit。’
　　’Anditwasrenewedthen；wasn’tit？’
　　’Ofcourseitwas——fortwomonths。Buthewasspeakingofacontinuationofrenewal。’
　　’I’mafraidwecan’tdoit，MrCrosbie。I’mafraidwecan’t，indeed。
　　Moneyissoawfultight。’
　　’OfcourseImustpaywhatyouchoosetochargeme。’
　　’Itisn’tthat，MrCrosbie。Thebillisoutforcollection，andmustbecollected。Intimeslikethesewemustdrawourselvesinalittle，youknow。Twohundredandfiftypoundsisn’tagreatdealofmoney，youwillsay；buteverylittlehelps，youknow；and，besides，ofcoursewegouponasystem。Businessisbusiness，andmustnotbemadepleasureof。I
　　shouldhaveagreatdealofpleasureindoingthisforyou，butitcan’tbedoneinthewayofbusiness。’
　　’WhenwillBroughtonbehere？’
　　’Hemaybeinatanytime——Ican’tsaywhen。Isupposehe’sdownatthecourtnow。’
　　’Whatcourt？’
　　’CapelCourt。’
　　’IsupposeIcanseehimthere？’saidCrosbie。
　　’Ifyoucatchhimyoucanseehim，ofcourse。Butwhatgoodwillthatdoyou，MrCrosbie？Itellyouwecan’tdoitforyou。IfBroughtonwashereatthismoment，itcouldn’tmaketheslightestdifference。’
　　NowMrCrosbiehadanideathatMrMusselboro，thoughhesatinDobbsBroughton’sseatandkeptonhishat，andbalancedhischairontwolegs，wasintruthnothingmorethanaclerk。Hedidnotquiteunderstandthemannerinwhichtheaffairsoftheestablishmentwereworked，thoughhehadbeeninformedthatMrsVanSieverwasoneofthepartners。ThatDobbsBroughtonwasthemanagingman，whoreallydidthebusiness，hewasconvinced；andhedidnotthereforeliketobeansweredperemptorilybysuchaoneasMusselboro。’IshouldwishtoseeMrBroughton，’hesaid。
　　’Youcancallagain——oryoucangodowntothecourtifyoulikeit。
　　Butyoumaytakethisasananswerfrommethatthebillcan’tberenewedbyus。’AtthismomentthedooroftheroomwasopenedandDobbsBroughtonhimselfcameintoit。Hisfacewasnotatallpleasant，andanyonemighthaveseenwithhalfaneyethatthemoney—marketwasagreatdealtighterthanhelikedittobe。’HereisMrCrosbiehere——abouthisbill，’saidMusselboro。
　　’MrCrosbiemusttakeuphisbill；that’sall，’saidDobbsBroughton。
　　’Butitdoesn’tsuitmetotakeitup，’saidCrosbie。
　　’Thenyoumusttakeitupwithoutsuitingyou，’saidDobbsBroughton。
　　Itmighthavebeenseen，Isaid，withhalfaneye，thatMrBroughtondidnotlikethestateofthemoney—market；anditmightalsobeseenwiththeotherhalfthathehadbeenendeavouringtomitigatethebitternessofhisdislikebyalcoholicaid。Musselboroatonceperceivedthathispatronandpartnerwashalfdrunk，andCrosbiewasawarethathehadbeendrinking。But，nevertheless，itwasnecessarythatsomethingmoreshouldbesaid。Thebillwouldbeduetomorrow——waspayableatCrosbie’sbankers；and，asMrCrosbietoowellknew，therewerenofundsthereforthatpurpose。Andtherewereotherpurposes，veryneedful，forwhichMrCrosbie’sfundswereatthepresentmomentunfortunatelybynomeanssufficient。Hestoodforafewmomentsthinkingwhathewoulddo；——whetherhewouldleavethedrunkenmanandhisofficeandletthebilltakeitschanceorwhetherhewouldmakeonemoreeffortforanarrangement。HedidnotforamomentbelievethatBroughtonhimselfwassubjecttoanypecuniarydifficulty。Broughtonlivedinabighouse，asrichmenlive，andhadanameforcommercialsuccess。ItneveroccurredtoCrosbiethatitwasamatterofgreatmomenttoDobbsBroughtonhimselfthatthebillshouldbetakenup。CrosbiestillthoughtthatMusselborowashisspecialenemy，andthatBroughtonhadjoinedMusselboroinhishostilitysimplybecausehewastoodrunktoknowbetter。’Youmight，atanyrate，answermecivilly，MrBroughton，’hesaid。
　　’Iknownothingofcivilitywiththingsastheyareatpresent，’saidBroughton。’Civilby————！There’snothingsocivilaspayingmoneywhenyouoweit。Musselboro，reachmedownthedecanterandsomeglasses。
　　PerhapsMrCrosbiewillwethiswhistle。’
　　’Hedon’twantanywine——noryoueither，’saidMusselboro。
　　’What’supnow？’saidBroughton，staggeringacrosstheroomtowardsacupboard，inwhichitwashiscustomtokeepaprovisionofthatcomfortwhichheneededatthepresentmoment。’IsupposeImaystandaglassofwinetoafellowinmyownroom，ifIlikeit。’
　　’Iwilltakenowine，thankyou，’saidCrosbie。
　　’Thenyoucantodotheotherthing。WhenIaskagentlemantotakeaglassofwine，thereisnocompulsion。Butaboutthebillthereiscompulsion。Doyouunderstandthat？Youmaydrink，orletitalone；butpayyoumust。Why，Mussy，whatd’yethink？——there’sCarter，RickettsandCarter；——I’mblessedifCarterjustnowdidn’tbegfortwomonths，asthoughtwomonthswouldbealltheworldtohim，andthatforatrumperyfivehundredpounds。Ineversawmoneylikeitisnow；never。’
　　Tothisappeal，Musselboromadenoreply，notcaring，perhaps，atthepresentmomenttosustainhispartner。Hestillbalancedhimselfinhischair，andstillkepthishatonhishead。EvenMrCrosbiebegantoperceivethatMrMusselboro’sgeniuswasintheascendantinHookCourt。
　　’Icanhardlybelieve，’saidCrosbie，’thatthingscanbesobadthatI
　　cannothaveabillfortwohundredandfiftypoundsrenewedwhenIamwillingtopayfortheaccommodation。Ihavenotdonemuchinthewayofbills，butIneverhadonedishonouredyet。’
　　’Don’tletthisbethefirst，’saidDobbsBroughton。
　　’NotifIcanpreventit，’saidCrosbie。’Buttotellyouthetruth，MrBroughton，mybillwillbedishonouredunlessIcanhaveitrenewed。Ifitdoesnotsuityoutodoit，Isupposeyoucanrecommendmetosomeonewhocanmakeitconvenient。’
　　’Whydon’tyougotoyourbankers？’saidMusselboro。
　　’Ineverdidaskmybankersforanythingofthekind。’
　　’Thenyoushouldtrywhatyourcreditwiththemisworth，’saidBroughton。’Itisn’tworthmuchhere，asyoucanperceive，MrCrosbie。’
　　Crosbie，whenheheardthis，becameveryangry；andMusselboro，perceivingthis，gotoutofhischair，sothathemightbeinreadinesstopreventanyviolence，ifviolencewereattempted。’Itreallyisnogoodyourstayinghere，’hesaid。’YouseethatBroughtonhasbeendrinking。Thereisnoknowingwhathemaysayordo。’
　　’Youbeblowed，’saidBroughton，whohadtakenthearm—chairassoonasMusselborohadleftit。
　　’Butyoumaybelievemeinthewayofbusiness，’continuedMusselboro，’whenItellyouthatitreallydoesnotsuitustorenewthebill。
　　We’repressedourselves，andwemustpressothers。’
　　’Andwhowilldoitforme？’saidCrosbie，almostindespair。
　　’ThereareBurtonandBanglesthere，thewine—merchantsdownintheyard；perhapstheymayaccommodateyou。It’sallintheirline；butI’mtoldtheychargeuncommondear。’
　　’Idon’tknowMessrsBurtonandBangles，’saidCrosbie。
　　’Thatneedn’tstandinyourway。Youtellthemwhereyoucomefrom，andthey’llmakeinquiry。Iftheythinkit’saboutright，they’llgiveyouthemoney；andiftheydon’t，theywon’t。’
　　MrCrosbiethenlefttheofficewithoutexchanginganotherwordwithDobbsBroughton，andwentdownintoHookCourt。AshedescendedthestairsheturnedoverinhismindtheproprietyofgoingtoMessrsBurtonandBangleswiththeviewofrelievinghimselffromhispresentdifficulty。Heknewthatitwasruinous。DealingevenwithsuchmenasDobbsBroughtonandMusselboro，whomhepresumedtomilderintheirgreedthanBurtonandBangles，were，allofthem，stepsontheroadtoruin。Butwhatwashetodo？Ifhisbillweredishonoured，thefactwouldcertainlybecomeknownathisoffice，andhemightevenultimatelybearrested。Inthedoorwayatthebottomofthestairshestoodforsomemoments，lookingoveratBurtonandBangles’，andhedidnotatallliketheaspectoftheestablishment。Insidetheofficehecouldseeamanstandingwithacigarinhismouth，veryresplendentinhisnewhat——withahatremarkablefortheboldupwardcurveofitsrim，andthismanwascopiouslydecoratedwithachainandsealshangingaboutwidelyoverhiswaistcoat。Hewasleaningwithhisbackagainstthecounterandwastalkingtosomeoneontheothersideofit。Therewassomethingintheman’slookandmannerwhichwasutterlyrepulsivetoCrosbie。HewasmorevulgartotheeyeeventhanMusselboro，andhisvoice，whichCrosbiecouldhearashestoodintheotherdoorway，wasalmostasdetestableasthatofDobbsBroughtoninhisdrunkenness。
　　CrosbiedidnotdoubtthatthiswaseitherBurtonorBangles，andthatthemanstandinginsidewaseitherBanglesorBurton。Hecouldnotbringhimselftoaccostthesemenandtellthemofhisnecessities，andproposetothemthattheyshouldrelievehim。InspiteofwhatMusselborohadjustsaidtohim，hecouldnotbelieveitpossiblethatheshouldsucceed，werehetodosowithoutsomeintroduction。SoheleftHookCourtandwentoutintothelane，hearingashewenttheloudvoiceofthemanwiththeturned—uphatandthechain。
　　Butwhatwashetodo？Attheoutsetofhispecuniarytroubles，whenhefirstfounditnecessarytolitigatesomequestionwiththeDeCourcypeople，andwithstandthewebwhichMortimerGazebeewovesoassiduously，hisownattorneyhadintroducedhimtoDobbsBroughton，andtheassistancewhichhehadneededhadcometohim，atanyrate，withouttrouble。HedidnotespeciallylikeMrBroughton；andwhenMrBroughtonfirstinvitedhimtocomeandeatalittlebitofdinner，hehadtoldhimselfwithpainfulremorsethatinhisearlydayshehadbeenaccustomedtoeathislittlebitsofdinnerwithpeopleofadifferentkind。Buttherehadbeennothingreallypainfulinthis。SincehismarriagewithadaughteroftheDeCourcys——bywhichmarriagehehadintendedtoclimbthehighestpinnacleofsocialeatinganddrinking——hehadgraduallyfoundhimselftobefallinginthescaleofsuchmatters，andcouldbringhimselftodinewithDobbsBroughtonwithoutanyviolentpain。ButnowhehadfallensolowthatDobbsBroughtonhadinsultedhim，andhewasinsuchdistressthathedidnotknowwheretoturnfortenpounds。MrGazebeehadbeatenhimatlitigation，andhisownlawyerhadadvisedhimthatitwouldbefoolishtotrythematterfurther。InhismarriagewiththenobledaughteroftheDeCourcyshehadallowedtheframersoftheDeCourcysettlementtotiehimupinsuchawaythatnow，evenwhenchancehaddonesomuchforhiminfreeinghimfromhiswife，hewasstillboundtotheDeCourcyfaction。Moneyhadbeenpaidaway——onhisbehalf，asallegedbyMrGazebee——likerunningwater；moneyforfurniture，moneyfortheleaseofahouse，moneywhenhehadbeenseparatedfromhiswife，moneywhileshewasstilllivingabroad。IthadseemedtohimthathehadbeenmadetopayfortheentiresupportofthefemalemoietyoftheDeCourcyfamilywhichhadsettleditselfatBaden—Baden，fromtheday，andinsomerespectsfrombeforetheday，onwhichhiswifehadjoinedthatmoiety。Hehaddoneallinhispowertostruggleagainstthesepayments，buteverysuchstrugglehadonlycosthimmoremoney。MrGazebeehadwrittentohimthemostcivilnotes；buteverynoteseemedtocosthimmoney——everywordofeachnoteseemedtofinditswayintosomebill。Hiswifehaddiedandherbodyhadbeenbroughtback，withallthepompbefittingthebodyofanearl’sdaughter，thatitmightbelaidwiththeDeCourcydust——athisexpense。
　　Theembalmingofherdearremainshadcostawondroussum，andwasaterribleblowuponhim。AlltheseitemswereshowereduponhimbyMrGazebeewiththemostcourteouslywordeddemandsforsettlementassoonasconvenient。Andthen，whenheappliedthatLadyAlexandrina’ssmallfortuneshouldbemadeovertohim——accordingtoacertainagreementunderwhichhehadmadeoverallhispossessionstohiswife，shouldshehavesurvivedhim——MrGazebeeexpressedamildopinionthathewaswronginhislaw，andblandlyrecommendedanamicablelawsuit。Theamicablelawsuitcarriedon。Hisownlawyerseemedtothrowhimover。MrGazebeewassuccessfulineverything。Nomoneycametohim。Moneywasdemandedfromhimonoldscoresandonnewscores——andallthathereceivedtoconsolehimforwhathehadlostwasamourningringwithhiswife’shair——forwhich，withsundryothermourningrings，hehadtopay——andanintroductiontoMrDobbsBroughton。ToMrDobbsBroughtonheowedfivehundredpounds；andasregardedabillfortheone—halfofthatsumwhichwasduetomorrow，MrDobbsBroughtonhadrefusedtogranthimrenewalforasinglemonth！
　　IknownomoreuncomfortablewalkingthanthatwhichfallstothelotofmenwhogointotheCitytolookformoney，andwhofindnone。Ofalltheloststepstroddenbymen，surelythestepslostafterthatfashionarethemostmelancholy。Itisnotonlythattheyaresovain，butthattheyareaccompaniedbysokillingasenseofshame！Towaitaboutindingyrooms，whichlookontobarewalls，andareapproachedthroughsomeHookCourt；ortokeepappointmentsatalowcoffee—house，towhichtrystingsthemoney—lenderwillnottroublehimselftocomeunlessitpleaseshim；tobecivil，almostsuppliant，toacunningknavewhomtheborrowerloathes；toberefusedthrice，andthencheatedwithhiseyesopenonthefourthattempt；tosubmithimselftovulgarityofthefoulestkind，andtohavetoseemtolikeit；tobebadgered，reviled，andatlastaccusedofwantofhonestybythemostfraudulentofmankind；andatthesametimetobeclearlyconsciousoftheruinthatiscoming——thisisthefateofhimwhogoesintotheCitytofindmoney，notknowingwhereitistobefound！
　　CrosbiewentalongthelaneintoLombardStreet，andthenhestoodstillforamomenttothink。Thoughheknewagooddealofaffairsingeneral，hedidnotquiteknowwhatwouldhappentohimofhisbillshouldbedishonoured。Thatsomebodywouldbringittohimnoted，andrequirehiminstantlytoputhishandintohispocketandbringouttheamountofthebill，plustheamountofcertainexpenses，hethoughtthathedidknow。Andheknewthatwereheintradehewouldbecomeabankrupt；andhewaswellawarethatsuchanoccurrencewouldprovehimtobeinsolvent。Buthedidnotknowwhathiscreditorswouldimmediatelyhavethepowerofdoing。ThatthefactofthebillhavingbeendishonouredwouldreachtheBoardunderwhichheserved——and，therefore，alsothefactthathehadhadrecoursetosuchbilltransactions——thisalonewasenoughtofillhimwithdismay。Inearlylifehehadcarriedhisheadsohigh，hehadbeensomuchmorethanamereGovernmentclerk，thattheideaofthecomingdisgracealmostkilledhim。Woulditnotbewellthatheshouldputanendtohimself，andthusescape？Whatwasthereintheworldnowforwhichitwasworthhiswhiletolive？Lily，whomhehadoncegained，andbythatgainhadplacedhimselfhighinallhopesofhappinessandriches——whomhehadthrownawayfromhim，andwhohadagainseemedtobealmostwithinhisreach——Lilyhadsorefusedhimthatheknewnothowtoapproachherwithafurtherprayer。And，hadshenotrefusedhim，howcouldhehavetoldherofhisloadofdebt？AshestoodatthecornerwherethelanerunsinLombardStreet，hecameforawhiletothinkalmostmoreofLilythanofhisrejectedbill。Then，ashethoughtofbothhismisfortunestogether，heaskedhimselfwhetherapistolwouldnotconvenientlyputanendtothemtogether。
　　Atthatmomentaloudharshvoicegreetedhisear。’Hallo，Crosbie，whatbringsyousofareast？OnedoesnotoftenseeyouintheCity。’ItwasthevoiceofSirRaffleBuffle，whichinformerdayshadbeenveryodioustoCrosbie’sears；——forSirRaffleBufflehadoncebeenthepresidinggeniusoftheofficetowhichCrosbiestillbelonged。’