’No，indeed，notveryoften，’saidCrosbie，smiling。Whocantellwhohasnotfeltit，thepainthatgoeswiththeforcingofsuchsmiles？ButSirRafflewasnotanacutelyobservantperson，anddidnotseethatanythingwaswrong。
’Isupposeyou’redoingalittlebusiness？’saidSirRaffle。’Ifamanhaskeptatrifleofmoneybyhim，thiscertainlyisthetimeforturningit。Youhavealwaysbeenwideawakeaboutsuchthings。’
’No，indeed，’saidCrosbie。Ifhecouldonlymakeuphismindthathewouldshoothimself，woulditnotbeapleasantthingtoinflictsomecondignpunishmentonthisodiousmanbeforehelefttheworld？ButCrosbieknewthathewasnotgoingtoshoothimself，andheknewalsothathehadnopowerofinflictingcondignpunishmentonSirRaffleBuffle。Hecouldonlyhatetheman，andcursehiminwardly。
’Ah，ha！’saidSirRaffle。’Youwouldn’tbehereunlessyouknewwhereagoodthingistobepickedup。ButImustbeoff。I’montheRockyMountainCanalCompanyDirectory。I’mnotabovetakingmytwoguineasaday。Good—bye，myboy。RemembermetooldOptimist。’AndsoSirRafflepassedon，leavingCrosbiestillstandingatthecornerofthelane。
Whatwashetodo？ThisinterruptionhadatleastseemedtodriveLilyfromhismind，andtosendhisideasbacktotheconsiderationofhispecuniarydifficulties。Hethoughtofhisownbank，aWest—Endestablishmentatwhichhewaspersonallyknowntomanyoftheclerks，andwherehehadbeenheretoforetreated，withgreatconsideration。Butoflatehisbalanceshadbeenverylow，andmorethanoncehehadbeenremindedthathehadoverdrawnhisaccount。HeknewwellthatthedistinguishedfirmofBounce，Bounce，andBouncewouldnotcashabillforhimorlendhimmoneywithoutsecurity。Hedidnotevendaretoaskthemtodoso。