But, it is in reality the House itself
that I refer to; and a wiser merchant or a truer gentleman never stepped.
"My dear Captain Ravender," says he. "Of all the men on earth, I wanted
to see you most. I was on my way to you."
"Well!" says I. "That looks as if you _were_ to see me, don't it?" With
that I put my arm in his, and we walked on towards the Royal Exchange,
and when we got there, walked up and down at the back of it where the
Clock-Tower is. We walked an hour and more, for he had much to say to
me. He had a scheme for chartering a new ship of their own to take out
cargo to the diggers and emigrants in California, and to buy and bring
back gold. Into the particulars of that scheme I will not enter, and I
have no right to enter. All I say of it is, that it was a very original
one, a very fine one, a very sound one, and a very lucrative one beyond
doubt.
He imparted it to me as freely as if I had been a part of himself. After
doing so, he made me the handsomest sharing offer that ever was made to
me, boy or man--or I believe to any other captain in the Merchant
Navy--and he took this round turn to finish with:
"Ravender, you are well aware that the lawlessness of that coast and
country at present, is as special as the circumstances in which it is
placed.
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