What did it matter, so that he could save her life? "I may
not get it," he said to himself as he went out; " but my knowledge of Arabic and the native dialect is all in my favour. And at least in a year or two she may have thoroughly shaken off the cough, and that is everything. At any rate I have a better chance of getting this, than I had of the other places that I applied for. There can hardly be a rush of applicants. When I am out there I may hear of something better. However, I will take another name. Fortunately I have a second one, which will do very well. Hilliard will do as well as Hartley; and as I never write it in full as my signature, no one would recognize it as my name. There is nothing to be ashamed of in accepting such a post. As for the marquis, as he has never been friendly with us, it does not matter; he is, I have heard, a very tough sort of man, and my father is not likely to survive him. But I do not think it would be fair to Geoffrey, when he comes into his peerage, that anyone should be able to say that he has a brother who is porter in a mercantile house at Alexandria. We have never got on very well together. The fact that he was heir to a title spoilt him. I think he would have been a very good fellow if it hadn't been for that."
On arriving at the office in Leadenhall Street he was, on saying he wished to speak to Mr. Partridge, at once shown in. A good many of his personal belongings had been long since pledged, but he had retained one or two suits, so that he could make as good an appearance as possible when he went out. The clerk had merely said " A gentleman wishes to speak to you, sir," and the merchant looked up enquiringly at him as he entered.
" I have come to see you, sir, with reference to that advertisement for a man at your establishment at Alexandria."
A look of surprise came over the merchant's face, and he said: "Have you called on your own account?"
"Yes; I am anxious to go abroad for the sake of my wife's health, and I am not particular as to what I do, so that I can take her to a warm climate. I may say that I have been two years in Egypt, and speak Arabic and Koptic fluently. I am strong and active, and am ready to make myself useful in any way."
Mr. Partridge did not answer for a minute. Certainly this applicant was not at all the sort of man he had expected to apply for the place in answer to his advertisement. That he was evidently a gentleman was far from an advantage, but the fact that he could speak the languages would add much to his value.
"Can you give me references?" he said at last.
"I cannot, sir. I should not like to apply to any of my friends in such a matter. I must ask you to take me on trust. Frankly, I have quarrelled with my family and have to strike out for myself. Were it not for my wife's health I could earn my living, but I am told it is essential that she should go to a warm climate, and as I see no other way of accomplishing this I have applied for this situation, hoping that my knowledge of the language and my readiness to perform whatever duties I may be required to do, might induce you to give me a trial."
"And you would, if necessary—say in the case of illness of one of my clerks—be ready to help in the office?'"
"Certainly, sir."
"Will you call again in half an hour? I will give you an answer then."
By the time Gregory returned, the merchant's mind was made up. He had come to the conclusion that the story he had heard was a true one; the way it had been told was convincing. The man was undoubtedly a gentleman; there was no mistake in his manner and talk. He had quarrelled with his family, probably over his marriage, and, as so many had done, found it difficult to keep his head above water. His wife had been ordered to a warm climate, and he was ready to do anything that would enable him to keep her there. It would assuredly be a great advantage to have one who could act in an emergency as a clerk; of course his knowledge of Ianguage would greatly add to his utility. It certainly was not business to take a man without a reference, but the advantages more than counterbalanced the disadvantages. It was not likely that he would stay with him long, but at any rate the fact that he was taking his wife with him would ensure his staying until he saw something a great deal better elsewhere. When Gregory returned therefore he said:
" I have been thinking this matter over. What is your name?"
"Gregory Hilliard, sir."
"Well, I have been thinking it over, and I have decided to engage you. I quite believe the story that you have told me, and your appearance fully carries it out. You may consider the matter settled. I am willing to pay for a second-class passage for your wife as well as yourself, and will give such instructions to my agents there as will render your position as easy for you as possible. In the natural course of things your duties would have included the sweeping out of the offices and work of that description, but I will instruct him to engage a native to do this under your supervision. You will be in charge of the warehouse under the chief storekeeper, and, as you say, you will, in case of pressure of work in the office, take a desk there. In consideration of your knowledge of the language, which will render you at once more useful than a green hand would be, I shall add ten shillings a week to the wages named in the advertisement, which will enable you to obtain comfortable lodgings.' ;
"I am heartily obliged to you, sir," Gregory said, "and will do my best to show that your confidence in me has not been misplaced. When do you wish me to sail? I shall only require a few hours to make my preparations."
" Then in that case I will take a passage for you and your wife in the P. & 0. that sails next Thursday from Southampton. I may say that it is our custom to allow fifteen pounds for outfit. If you will call again in half an hour I will hand you the ticket and a cheque for that amount, and you can call the day before you go, for a letter to our agents there."
Gregory ascended the stairs to his lodging with a far more elastic step than usual. His wife saw at once, as he entered, that he had good news of some sort.
'What is it, Gregory?"
"Thank God, darling, that I have good news to give you at last! I have obtained a situation at about a hundred and thirty pounds a year in Alexandria."
"Alexandria?" she repeated in surprise.
" Yes. It is the place of all others that I wanted to go to; you see I understand the language. That is one thing; and what is of infinitely more consequence, it is a place that will suit your health, and you will, I hope, very soon get rid of that nasty cough. I did not tell you at the time, but the doctor I took you to, said that this London air did not suit you, but that a warm climate would soon set you up again."
" You are going out there for my sake, Gregory! As if I hadn't brought trouble enough on you already!"
"I would bear a good deal more trouble for your sake, dear; you need not worry about that."
"And what are you going to do?" she asked.
" I am going to be a sort of useful man—extra clerk, assistant storekeeper, et cetera, et cetera. I like Egypt very much, it- will suit me to a T; at any rate it will be a vast improvement upon this. Talking of that, I have forgotten the rashers; I will go and get them at once. We sha'n't have to depend upon them as our main staple in future, for fruit is dirt-cheap out there, and one does not want much meat. We shall be able to live like princes on two pounds ten a week, and besides, this appointment may lead to something better, and we may consider that there is a future before us. We are to sail on Thursday. Look! here are fifteen golden sovereigns, that is for my outfit, and we can begin with luxuries at once. We shall not want much outfit: half a dozen suits of white drill for myself and some gowns for you."