CHARITY WORK
The portly gentleman is described as someone who collects donations for charity, as evidenced by his visit to Scrooge's counting-house the day before and his interaction with Scrooge regarding back-payments.
PORTLY GENTLEMAN
He had not gone far when, coming on towards him, he beheld the portly gentleman who had walked into his counting-house the day before, and said, 'Scrooge and Marley's, I believe?' ... 'I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was very kind of you. A merry Christmas to you, sir!'