"Then one day Pram came up to me. 'Puh,' said he, 'it's hot,' and sat down, puffing. It was midsummer and pretty warm.
"'You're right there,' said I, putting away my balance-sheet. I'd just tacked £200 on to the valuation of the premises to make it come out.
"'Not for a nabob like you, surely,' said I, feeling a bit anxious all the same. There was a matter of £150 between us. And I'd no idea where to rake up any funds beyond.
"'I'm not sure if I'll pull through myself,' said he.
"'Nonsense, Consul--with your credit----'
"'Hermansen at the bank will let you have all you want. _You're_ safe enough.'
"'I've lost courage altogether now. It's hopeless to keep going any longer in this place.'
"'But Lord save us, man, _you_ mustn't go under. If you did, there'd be more than myself would have to go too.'
"'Well, you'll have to keep me out then, Holm, that's all.'
"Only fancy me backing a bill for a man like Pram when I was barely hanging on by my eyelids myself.
"Well, it was then the wonderful thing happened. Just in the middle of the day, after Pram had gone, came a letter enclosing £150--anonymous! I've never felt so glad in all my life, Vindt--it was like a message from Providence telling me to keep up my pluck--and Consul Pram as well!
"That afternoon I went round to his office, and backed a bill for £500. And next day Pram told me, laughingly, that he had got the bank to discount it, and Hermansen had said, 'Shouldn't have too much to do with that Holm if I were you, Pram. Not first-rate paper, really. But of course I'd take anything with _your_ name on!'
"Some time after I backed another bill for Pram, and helped him in various little ways, for the man was almost out of his senses with worry; I'm sure he'd have gone smash if he'd been left to himself. I met his wife, too, about that time, with the boy. She is a woman of commanding presence, as you know, and handsome, to look at, anyway. She gave me her hand most cordially, and said, 'My sincerest thanks, Mr. Holm, for all you have done for us. _I shall never, never forget it._'
"Six months after, the trouble was over, and young Pram was getting up a sledge party, inviting all the young people in the town. Marie's name was on the list. 'No, leave her out,' said his mother. 'He's quite a common person really, is that Holm.'