In the morning I began by making my way to the old familiar place, the Counting House and Wharf close to All-hallows the Great. The Wharf was quite empty and desolate: the cranes were there, but there were no lighters: the casks and bales that formerly encumbered the place were gone: in the outer counting-house there were no clerks except Ramage. But the place was filled with lawyers' clerks attornies, creditors and their representatives. The talk was loud and angry: all were talking together: all were threatening terrible things unless their claims were paid in full. Ramage held up his hands when he saw me and shook his head. 'Will my cousin see me, Ramage?' I asked. 'Tell him I have something of the greatest importance to say to him.' 'It is all over, Mr. William,' he whispered. 'The blow has fallen. After the things which came out in the Old Bailey there was no hope. It was all over the City at once and on Change in the afternoon. You will find him within. I fear you will find that he has been drinking. Go in, Sir, you must not pay any heed to what he says. He has been strange and unlike himself for a long time. No wonder with all these troubles.' Thus did the faithful servant stand up for the credit of an unworthy master. 'Go in, Sir. He will insult you. But don't mind what he says.' I went in. Matthew was evidently half drunk. He had a bottle of brandy before him, and he was drinking fast and furiously. 'Gaol-bird!' he cried, banging his fist on the table and talking thickly. 'Newgate-bird--what do you want? Money? You all want money. You may go away then. I haven't got any money. All the money's gone. All the money's lost.' So he went on repeating his words, and maundering and forgetting one moment what he had said just before. 'Matthew,' I said, 'I have not come to ask for money or for anything. I have brought you news.' 'What news? There is no news but bad news. Perhaps somebody has murdered Probus. Why don't you murder Probus--murder--murder Probus?' I suffered him to go on in his foolish way without reply. 'Do you know, Will,' he lay back in his chair and plunged his hands in his pockets, 'there is nobody I should like to see murdered so much as Probus--Ezekiel Probus, excepting yourself. If I could see both of you hanging side by side, I should be happy; but if I could see you both murdered with a bludgeon I could go--I could go--I could go to the King's Bench cheerfully--cheerfully.' It was no use prolonging the interview. I told him, briefly, why I had come. 'Your wife,' I said, 'has had her house sacked and the whole of her property destroyed by the mob.' 'I am glad of that--very glad to hear that. All of it destroyed you say? This is good news indeed.' 'She can no longer carry on her business at the Soho Square Assembly Rooms. The property destroyed consists largely of furniture supplied for the use of the Rooms. It is not yet paid for. Therefore, she will be compelled to refer her creditors to you.'