You seem to me a real millionaire now.
You've given me some personal information; I'll give you some in
return. I earn three hundred a year, and perhaps sixty pounds a year
extra for overtime. I live by myself in two rooms in Muscovy
Court. I've as much money as I need, and I always do exactly what
I like outside office. As regards the office, I do as little work as I
can, on principle - it's a fight between us and the Commissioners
who shall get the best. They try to do us down, and we try to do
them down - it's pretty even on the whole. All's fair in war, you
know, and there ain't no ten commandments in a Government
office.'
Racksole laughed. 'Can you get off this afternoon?' he asked.
'Certainly,' said Hazell; 'I'll get one of my pals to sign on for me,
and then I shall be free.'
'Well,' said Racksole, 'I should like you to come down with me to
the Grand Babylon. Then we can talk over my little affair at
length. And may we go on your boat? I want to meet your crew.'
'That will be all right,' Hazell remarked. 'My two men are the
idlest, most soul-less chaps you ever saw. They eat too much, and
they have an enormous appetite for beer; but they know the river,
and they know their business, and they will do anything within the
fair game if they are paid for it, and aren't asked to hurry.'
That night, just after dark, Theodore Racksole embarked with his
new friend George Hazell in one of the black-painted Customs
wherries, manned by a crew of two men - both the later freemen of
the river, a distinction which carries with it certain privileges
unfamiliar to the mere landsman.
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