I do so as my time is greatly occupied.

If, however, it is positively inconvenient to you, I will change it to 10.

You will, perhaps, be kind enough to let me have a note in reply.
Believe me to be, My dear Mr.Harding, Your assured friend, OBH.

SLOPE The Palace, Monday morning, 20th August, 185-- Mr.Harding neither could nor would believe anything of the sort, and he thought, moreover, that Mr.Slope was rather impertinent to call himself by such a name.

His assured friend, indeed! How many assured friends generally fall to the lot of a man in this world?
And by what process are they made?
And how much of such process had taken place as yet between Mr.Harding and Mr.Slope?
Mr.Harding could not help asking himself these questions as he read and re-read the note before him.