"Now, please tell me another thing, as frankly.

Can I, as a man of some means and influence, offer you any acceptable service ?" There was silence.

Northway could not shape a reply.
"You have been in commerce, I think ?" proceeded the other.

"Should you care to take a place in some good house of business on the Continent, or elsewhere abroad?
I think it's in my power to open a way for you such as you would not easily make by your own exertions." The listener was suffering.

But for one thing, this offer would have tempted him strongly; but that one thing made it idle for him to think of what was proposed.