The fact was, that when the five hundred pounds had come into my pocket,

a thought had come into my head which had been often there before;

and it appeared to me that Wemmick was a good person to advise with

concerning such thought.

He had already locked up his safe, and made preparations for going home.

He had left his desk, brought out his two greasy office candlesticks and

stood them in line with the snuffers on a slab near the door, ready to

be extinguished; he had raked his fire low, put his hat and great-coat

ready, and was beating himself all over the chest with his safe-key, as

an athletic exercise after business.

"Mr. Wemmick," said I, "I want to ask your opinion. I am very desirous

to serve a friend."

Wemmick tightened his post-office and shook his head, as if his opinion

were dead against any fatal weakness of that sort.

"This friend," I pursued, "is trying to get on in commercial life,

but has no money, and finds it difficult and disheartening to make a

beginning. Now I want somehow to help him to a beginning."

"With money down?" said Wemmick, in a tone drier than any sawdust.

"With some money down," I replied, for an uneasy remembrance shot across

me of that symmetrical bundle of papers at home--"with some money down,

and perhaps some anticipation of my expectations."

"Mr. Pip," said Wemmick, "I should like just to run over with you on my

fingers, if you please, the names of the various bridges up as high

as Chelsea Reach. Let's see; there's London, one; Southwark, two;

Blackfriars, three; Waterloo, four; Westminster, five; Vauxhall, six."

He had checked off each bridge in its turn, with the handle of his

safe-key on the palm of his hand. "There's as many as six, you see, to

choose from."

"I don't understand you," said I.

"Choose your bridge, Mr. Pip," returned Wemmick, "and take a walk upon

your bridge, and pitch your money into the Thames over the centre arch

of your bridge, and you know the end of it. Serve a friend with it, and

you may know the end of it too,--but it's a less pleasant and profitable

end."

I could have posted a newspaper in his mouth, he made it so wide after

saying this.

"This is very discouraging," said I.

"Meant to be so," said Wemmick.

"Then is it your opinion," I inquired, with some little indignation,

"that a man should never--"




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