I mentioned in an earlier portion of my story that I gained part of my income by discounting bills of exchange. It has been suggested to me that I should make clear to you the meaning of bills of exchange, their origin and purpose, and how I could have gained money by my dealings with them. I will do so as well as I can, and in as few words as possible. Originally, a bill of exchange was nothing more than a letter from a person in one country to his debtor in another, begging him to pay the debt to the person who would deliver the letter to him. This way of proceeding was a saving of trouble to everybody. To the creditor certainly; to the debtor, who could pay the money owing without the danger and expense of sending it abroad; and to the third person, or bearer of the letter, who, travelling in a foreign land, found himself in funds of the country without the great inconvenience of carrying much money from home. For example, Madame Rotina, dwelling in Constantinople, has sent goods to Mrs. James, of Cheapside, London, to the amount of £300, to be paid on a certain date some twelve months hence. Well, a friend of Madame Rotina’s intends spending a few weeks in London, and asks if she can do anything for her friend while there. “Oh, yes,” says madame; “I shall be glad if you will take a letter to Mrs. James, who owes me money, and receive it for me.” It might so happen that the friend would wish to leave London before the time has arrived for Mrs. James to pay. She would, therefore, take the letter, which would be open, to a fourth person—to me, perhaps—and say, “This bill is not due for a month. The debtor is reliable. Will you be good enough to discount it for me?” Under the circumstances, this is what I should do: take the bill for £300, and give the bearer £298 19s. 6d. Four per cent. interest for one month would be £1, which would be mine for the trouble and risk of discounting, as well as payment for the loss of my money for that time. The odd sixpence would be for the stamp. At the end of the month I should get the full £300. Now do you see how I increased my income by discounting bills of exchange, especially if some hundreds passed through my hands in one day? These letters or bills, which were representatives of debts, became by degrees articles of traffic. They were simple instruments, transferring value from place to place, at home or abroad, and by their means accounts were balanced without the transmission of money. At this present time the net produce of stamps alone in Great Britain is enormous. I hope I have made it clear to you; because I want you to become thoroughly acquainted with all my daily work. And now to proceed with my story. There is no knowing how long I should have gone on content in my one room at the Grocers’ Hall, had not some unpleasantness occurred about the renewal of the lease.