"
"Stay half a moment," he said, speaking very softly, and laying his
hand upon my arm, "I will not detain you a minute."
"There is no hurry in life," I said.
"You promised me just now you would assist me."
"If it be in my power, I will."
"Before we part at Alexandria I will endeavour to tell you the story
of my troubles, and then if you can aid me--" It struck me as he
paused that I had made a rash promise, but nevertheless I must stand
by it now--with one or two provisoes. The chances were that the
young man was short of money, or else that he had got into a scrape
about a girl. In either ease I might give him some slight
assistance; but, then, it behoved me to make him understand that I
would not consent to become a participator in mischief. I was too
old to get my head willingly into a scrape, and this I must
endeavour to make him understand.
"I will, if it be in my power," I said. "I will ask no questions
now; but if your trouble be about some lady--"
"It is not," said he.
"Well; so be it. Of all troubles those are the most troublesome.
If you are short of cash--"
"No, I am not short of cash.
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