‘Oh, never mind, never mind,’ said Alec hastily. ‘Any time will do for that--when you get rich. But has Mr. Hatchett really turned you away?’ ‘Aye; or raither that stuck-up deevil, Wullie Beattie. But I’ll be even wi’ him yet; him and his scunnersome[4] pride!’ ‘Have you any prospect of finding another situation?’ asked Alec. The other slowly but decisively shook his head. ‘What will you do, then?’ For answer MacGowan carefully emptied his purse into his left palm, and took one or two coins out of the tiny heap. ‘I owe this to my landlady,’ he said, referring to the two sovereigns in his right hand. There were only three or four left. ‘And is that all you have between you and----’ MacGowan nodded. ‘Stay here a minute,’ said Alec, after a moment’s thought. ‘I’ll see if I can make your peace for you. I can but try.’ And without waiting for MacGowan’s thanks he went on with quick steps to the office. ‘So you have dismissed MacGowan,’ said Alec as soon as he reached the managing clerk’s room. ‘Yes; lazy, drunken vagabond that he is!’ said Beattie spitefully. ‘I told him that I should not advise Mr. Hatchett to look over this offence; so I suppose he took that as equivalent to a dismissal.’ ‘But he will starve! He can’t find another place without a character for steadiness; and he has only got three or four pounds in the world.’ ‘What’s that to me?’ ‘Beattie, I wish you would give the poor fellow another chance,’ said Alec, after a pause. ‘You have only to say nothing of his absence, and it will never be noticed; or if you do mention it, say a word in excuse, and I’m sure Mr. Hatchett would never think of dismissing him.’ ‘Probably not,’ said Beattie drily. ‘Then why won’t you do it?’ ‘Because I don’t want a drunken impertinent fellow like that about the place. And I don’t see why _you_ need trouble yourself about him;’ and Beattie turned again to his papers with something like a sneer on his face. This was all that was needed to set Alec’s blood in a flame. He took a step or two forward, his eyes in a blaze, his hands involuntarily clenched at his side. ‘Then you prefer to be my enemy rather than my friend?’ he said, between his teeth. Beattie looked up in astonishment. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked. ‘Only that I count no man my friend who refuses me so small a favour.’ And Alec looked as if he meant to have his way, whether it pleased Mr. William Beattie or not.