"You want a ’undred poundth--to thpread the cause, ath you call it. Well, I ain’t goin’ to lend you money to thpread any cause, but I’ll be better than my bond: I’ll lend you a ’undred at 10 per thent--50 per thent. would be low enough, too low for such rotten thecurity ath you can give--on condition that you pay your family’s debts with it. I know about ’em, Mithter Buthkin; E. Oldstein’s a knowing one. Also, that not one ’alfpenny of it goes to convertin’ anybody. I’ve never made such an offer ath this before, and if any man ’ad told me a year ago I’d do it, I’d ’ave called ’im somethin’. You can thank the fairieth for it. But that ain’t all! I’ll give you ten pound at once--’ere they are, nice fat yellow boys, ain’t they?--to buy food and clothin’ for poor Christians--Christians, mind!--who need it. I’ll trutht you to dithtribute the moneys honestly. Put ’em away carefully, Mithter Buthkin. To-night you can come to my ’ouse--it’s next door to yours--number forty-eight, and fetch the loan and sign the document. Jutht realithe thith, Mithter Buthkin, I’m treatin’ you wonderfully well--the fairieth ’ave made me do it!--but, mind my words, put another paper of any kind into my letter-box, or let me find you even printin’ a bill about the Conversion of the Jewth--and fairieth or no fairieth--I’ll crush you!" Oldstein sat down exhausted. He took a strong cigar out of a drawer, cut and lighted it with quivering fingers. Lemuel’s mind was in a riot of confusion. Qualms of conscience, of gratitude, of fear swept through him. He rose mechanically, picked up and pocketed the ten sovereigns, and feebly squeezed Oldstein’s proffered hand. "Do you thmoke, Mr. Buthkin?" asked Emmanuel. "No!" "Does your Dad thmoke?" "No!" "That’th a great pity. So good for the ’eart! If you wanted to buy thome cigarth at any time, real ’Avanah, I could get you a ’undred--good uns, mind; strong, with a flavour--for a very low price. Well, theven o’clock to-night! ’Annah will be pleased to see you!" Lemuel walked the whole way home, and more than once said, "Dash!" *CHAPTER X* *THE IMPORTANCE OF BIM* It was some few weeks before Emmanuel Oldstein was able to fulfil his good intention of visiting Paradise Court. Sally was the last on his list, and not till June’s name-month was half-way through could he come to her. Meanwhile things had been happening. The newspaper crusade was going well, and the two from Fairyland were using their efforts to help it forward. The gnome was becoming influential in Paradise Court. It was in especial his province. June, with her wings and magic, could visit a wide area; but he, with his poor inches and limitations, was necessarily stay-at-home. Partly through accident he began a revolution which was fated to have important effect in the recovery of London. This is how it happened.