He gazed with delight at the crowd of miscellaneous shipping in the harbour and the bustling figures on the quay, only pausing occasionally to answer anxious inquiries concerning his health from seafaring men in tarry trousers, who had waylaid him with great pains from a distance.
He reached his office at last, and, having acknowledged the respectful greetings of Mr.Silk, passed into the private room, and celebrated his return to work by at once arranging with his partner for a substantial rise in the wages of that useful individual.
"My conscience is troubling me," he declared, as he hung up his hat and gazed round the room with much relish.
"Silk is happy enough," said Hardy.

"It is the best thing that could have happened to him." "I should like to raise everybody's wages," said the benevolent Mr.
Swann, as he seated himself at his desk.

"Everything is like a holiday to me after being cooped up in that bedroom; but the rest has done me a lot of good, so Blaikie says.

And now what is going to happen to you ?" [Illustration: "Pausing occasionally to answer anxious inquiries."] Hardy shook his head.
"Strike while the iron is hot," said the ship-broker.

"Go and see Captain Nugent before he has got used to the situation.