“Mr. Gadgem,” gritted St. George between his teeth--he had risen from the table during the colloquy and was standing with his back to the mantel, the blood up to the roots of his hair.
“Lay the packages of bills with the memoranda on my desk, and I will look them over during the day.”
“But, Mr. Temple,” and his lip curled contemptuously--he had had that same trick played on him by dozens of men.
“Not another word, Mr. Gadgem. I said--I--would look--them--over--during--the--day. You've had some dealings with me and know exactly what kind of a man I am. When I want you I will send for you. If I don't send for you, come here to-morrow morning at ten o'clock and Mr. Rutter will give you his answer. Todd, show Mr. Gadgem out.”
“But, Mr. Temple--you forGET that my duty is to--”
“I forget nothing. Todd, show Mr. Gadgem out.”
With the closing of the door behind the agent, St. George turned to Harry. His eyes were snapping fire and his big frame tense with anger. This phase of the affair had not occurred to him--nothing in which money formed an important part ever did occur to him.
“A cowardly piece of business, Harry, and on a par with everything he has done since you left his house. Talbot must be crazy to act as he does. He can't break you down in any other way, so he insults you before his friends and now throws these in your face”--and he pointed to the package of bills where Gadgem had laid it--“a most extraordinary proceeding. Please hand me that list. Thank you.... Now this third item ... this five hundred dollars--did you get that money?”
“Yes--and another hundred the next day, which isn't down,” rejoined the young man, running his eye over the list.
“Yes, of course--for Gilbert. He got into a card scrape at the tavern and I helped him out. I told my father all about it and he said I had done just right; that I must always help a friend out in a case like that, and that he'd pay it. All he objected to was my borrowing it of a tradesman instead of my coming to him.” It was an age of borrowing and a bootmaker was often better than a banker.
“Well--but why didn't you go to him?” He wanted to get at all the facts.
“There wasn't time. Gilbert had to have the money in an hour, and it was the only place where I could get it.”