If he is we'll wake him up." And off we went, my heart full of joy at this unexpected hope.
Shoddy's shop was still open, and its lord was at home.

He greeted Flanagan obsequiously, as a good customer.
"Ah, Shoddy, how are you?
Just make out my friend's bill here, will you--look sharp!" Shoddy, in as much surprise as I was, promptly obeyed, adding the interest for the last year and the next.
"Knock off that last six-and-six," demanded my friend.
"But that's for--" "Knock it off, do you hear ?" shouted Flanagan, "and receipt it." Fancy my astonishment! I had expected to see Shoddy persuaded to abandon his idea of calling at the office; but this was far more than I ever dreamt of.
"Oh, Flanagan," I began, "you really--" "Shut up," said Flanagan.

"May as well owe it to me as Shoddy.

There," added he, putting down the money and giving me the receipt, "and look here, Mr Shoddy, the next time you try your sharp practice on us I change my tailor." "And now," said he, putting a note into my hand, "this will help to square accounts with Hawkesbury and some of the others.

Mind you pay it back, do you hear ?" Before I could even turn to speak to him he had bolted round the corner and vanished!.