This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII NED COMES ACROSS SOME OLD ACQUAINTANCES A FEW days after the dreadful storm we have recorded, a certain merchant sat in a dark little counting-house in the city of London, anxiously looking over his books. He was a staid looking man, somewhat beyond the middle age; whose thin lips, small ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII NED COMES ACROSS SOME OLD ACQUAINTANCES A FEW days after the dreadful storm we have recorded, a certain merchant sat in a dark little counting-house in the city of London, anxiously looking over his books. He was a staid looking man, somewhat beyond the middle age; whose thin lips, small eyes, scant hair, and low forehead, bespoke a poverty of nature; and the pinched cut of his snuff-coloured garments accorded well with the character of his countenance. His spare neckcloth was tied simply, and smoothed down in a plain fall in front, without the least particle of border, --an excess in which Mr. Spiggles did not indulge even on a gala day. Snuff he did indulge in, --or it should rather be said he took, for it was not for indulgence he used it, but merely to give him the opportunity, when he was asked a question which he did not like to answer hastily, of taking out his box, tapping it leisurely, dipping his fingers into it slowly, and making three solemn applications of his hand to his nose, that he might thereby gain time to answer the aforesaid question in a manner the most advantageous to himself. He was sparing of everything--even his words--though they were worth nothing, unless they were written, and this, it would seem, was his own opinion, from the fact that he was quite regardless or forgetful of them himself, unless the inexorable "black and white" held him bound, or refreshed his memory. Mr. Spiggles was consulting his books after the "terrible night," to see what amount of risks he had on the water, when a thrifty neighbour, as fond of money as himself, entered the counting-house. After the exchange of formal salutations between them, Mister Gripps remarked the sad visage of his neighbour. "Ay, brother Gripps, and...
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