A week after Rachel leaves the Bruff household, Mr. Bruff receives a dark- complected visitor at work who had a card from Septimus Luker recommending him. Mr. Bruff suspects that the visitor was one of the three Indians. The Indian asks to borrow money from Mr. Bruff and produced a jeweled box as collateral. The Indian is polite, but Mr. Bruff denies him a loan. Before leaving, the Indian asks within how long it is customary to repay a loan, and Mr. Bruff tells him a year. Mr. Bruff has the sense that this question was the only reason for the Indian's visit.
Next Septimus Luker asks Mr. Bruff for an interview. Mr. Luker reports that the Indian had visited him, too, and asked precisely the same questions. Mr. Luker had, in a moment of fear, recommended Mr. Bruff as a solicitor who could lend money to the Indian.