Without borrowing, he could not provide for the expenses of more than another week or two.
His parcel under his arm, he entered the ground-floor office, and desired to see that member of the firm with whom he had previously had personal relations.

This gentleman was not in town; he would be away for a few days.

Reardon left the manuscript, and came out into the street again.
He crossed, and looked up at the publishers' windows from the opposite pavement.

'Do they suspect in what wretched circumstances I am?
Would it surprise them to know all that depends upon that budget of paltry scribbling?
I suppose not; it must be a daily experience with them.
Well, I must write a begging letter.' It was raining and windy.

He went slowly homewards, and was on the point of entering the public door of the flats when his uneasiness became so great that he turned and walked past.