Then he started forth himself.

First in order, he deemed it best to see if he could not get a little more time on some of his borrowed money.

This was a delicate operation, and its attempt could only, he felt, be justified by the exigencies of the case.

The largest sum to be returned was three hundred dollars.

He had borrowed it from a merchant in good circumstances, who could at any time command his thousands, and to whose credit there usually remained heavy balances in bank.