"What! It wasn't a corpse as reminded you of me? That's rum. Then I expect somebody told you some more about Viney and Marr. Come, what's the latest about Viney an' Marr? Tell us about that." Grandfather Nat was humorously bent on driving Mr. Cripps from his mark, and Mr. Cripps deferred. "Well, it's certainly a topic," he said, "a universal topic. Crooks the ship-chandler's done for, they say--unsolvent. The _Minerva's_ reported off Prawle Point in to-day's list, an' they say as she'll be sold up as soon as she's moored. But there--she's hypotenused, Cap'en Kemp; pawned, as you might say; up the flue. It's a matter o' gen'ral information that she's pawned up to 'er r'yals--up to 'er main r'yals, sir. Which reminds me, speakin' o' r'yals, there's a timber-shop just along by the mortuary----" "Ah, no doubt," Grandfather Nat interrupted, "they must put 'em somewhere. Any news o' the _Juno_?" "No, sir, she ain't reported; not doo Barbadoes yet, or mail not in, any'ow. They'll sell 'er too, but the creditors won't get none of it. She's hypotenused as deep as the other--up to her r'yals; an' there's nothin' else to sell. So it's the gen'ral opinion there won't be much to divide, Marr 'avin' absconded with the proceeds. An' as regards what I was agoin' to----" "Yes, you was goin' to tell me some more about Marr, I expect," my grandfather persisted. "Heard where he's gone?" Mr. Cripps shook his head. "They don't seem likely to ketch 'im, Cap'en Nat. Some says 'e's absconded out o' the country, others says 'e's 'idin' in it. Nobody knows 'im much, consequence o' Viney doin' all the outdoor business--I on'y see 'im once myself. Viney, 'e thinks 'e's gone abroad, they say; an' 'e swears Marr's the party as 'as caused the unsolvency, 'avin' bin a-doin' of 'im all along; 'im bein' in charge o' the books. An' it's a fact, Cap'en Kemp, as you never know what them chaps may get up to with the proceeds as 'as charge o' books. The paper's full of 'em every week--always absconding with somebody's proceeds! An' by the way, speakin' o' proceeds----" This time Captain Nat made no interruption, but listened with an amused resignation. "Speakin' o' proceeds," said Mr. Cripps, "it was bein' temp'ry out o' proceeds as made me think o' you as I come along from the mortuary. For I see as 'andsome a bit o' panel for to paint a sign on as ever I come across. It was----" "Yes, I know. Enough to stimilate you to paint it fine, only to look at it, wasn't it?" "Well, yes, Cap'n Kemp, so it was." "Not dear, neither?" "No--not to say dear, seein' 'ow prices is up. If I'd 'ad----" "Well, well, p'raps prices'll be down a bit soon," said Grandfather Nat, grinning and pulling out a sixpence. "I ain't good for no more than that now, anyhow!" And having passed over the coin he took my hand and turned away, laughing and shaking his head. Seeing that my grandfather wanted his sign, it seemed to me that he was losing an opportunity, and I said so.