"I don't think he will meddle with me again," said Paul to himself, as
he pulled down the sleeves of his jacket.
He walked back, and looked for the shirt which he had laid down before
commencing the combat. But he looked in vain. Nothing was to be seen
of the shirt or of Mike's companion. Probably both had disappeared
together.
CHAPTER XI
BARCLAY & CO.
The loss of the shirt was very vexatious. It was not so much the value
of it that Paul cared for, although this was a consideration by no means
to be despised by one in his circumstances; but it had been lent as a
pattern, and without it his mother would be unable to make Mr. Preston's
shirts. As to recovering it, he felt that there was little chance of
this. Besides, it would involve delay, and his mother could not afford
to remain idle. Paul felt decidedly uncomfortable. Again Mike Donovan
had done him an injury, and this time of a more serious nature than
before.
What should he do?
There seemed but one answer to this question. He must go back to Mr.
Preston, explain the manner in which he had lost his shirt, and ask him
for another, promising, of course, to supply the place of the one lost.
He was not sure whether Mr. Preston would accept this explanation. He
might think it was only an attempt to defraud him. But, at any rate, it
seemed the only thing to do, and it must be done at once.
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