"Hold on?" cried Sherwood. "Of course I mean to hold on. There's
pleasure and honour in the thing. I enjoy the fight. I've had
thoughts of getting into Parliament, to speak for sugar. One might
do worse, you know. There'll be a dissolution next year, certain.
First-rate fun, fighting a constituency. But in that case I must
have a partner here--why that's an idea. How would it suit you?
Why not join me?"
And so the thing came about. The terms which Godfrey offered were so
generous that Will had to reduce them before he accepted: even thus,
he found his income, at a stroke, all but doubled. Sherwood, to be
sure, did not stand for Parliament, nor was anything definite heard
about that sugar-protecting budget which he still believed in. In
Little Ailie Street business steadily declined.
"It's a disgrace to England!" cried Godfrey. "Monstrous that not a
finger should be lifted to save one of our most important
industries. You, of course, are free to retire at any moment, Will.
For my own part, here I stand, come what may. If it's ruin, ruin let
it be. I'll fight to the last. A man owes me ten thousand pounds.
When I recover it, and I may any day--I shall put every penny into
the business."
"Ten thousand pounds!" exclaimed Warburton in astonishment. "A trade
debt, do you mean?"
"No, no. A friend of mine, son of a millionaire, who got into
difficulties some time ago, and borrowed of me to clear himself.
Good interest, and principal safe as Consols.
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