Page:The Stolen Bacillus.djvu/150

134. If you hurry the process the crystals are small—it is only by prolonged standing that they grow to any size. I resolved to let this apparatus cool for two years, letting the temperature go down slowly during the time. And I was now quite out of money; and with a big fire and the rent of my room, as well as my hunger to satisfy, I had scarcely a penny in the world.

"I can hardly tell you all the shifts I was put to while I was making the diamonds. I have sold newspapers, held horses, opened cab-doors.  For many weeks I addressed envelopes.  I had a place as assistant to a man who owned a barrow, and used to call down one side of the road while he called down the other. Once for a week I had absolutely nothing to do, and I begged. What a week that was!  One day the fire was going out and I had eaten nothing all day, and a little chap taking his girl out, gave me sixpence—to show off.  Thank heaven for vanity!  How the fish-shops smelt!  But