Part 33 (1/2)
”I don't ask it as a gift. Of course I meant to pay you back the other advances, but everything's been against me. I _will_ try to pay you.
Anyhow, this is a bona fide loan. It's only to tide me over.”
”But you said that last time.”
”Last time you refused--and I had to chuck away my little run-about--simply chuck it away. And I wanted to keep that car as much for your sake as for mine. I knew you enjoyed a ride in it.”
She had ridden in the car once, and once only.
”Look here, old girl.” And he removed his hat, and sat down on the other side of the dinner-table. Perhaps he had hoped that she would give him a cheque and let him go out again in two or three minutes; but now he saw it would take longer. ”I must have the money by Monday morning--or I shall be in a devil of a hole. More or less a matter of honour.... Don't be nasty. Help a pal. It's not _like_ you to refuse--when I tell you I'm in earnest.”
”But, d.i.c.k, I am in earnest, too. Truly I can't do it.”
”Rot. You can do it without feeling it.” And he a.s.sumed a facetious air.
”Just your autograph--that's all I ask for. I'll write out the cheque myself--save you all trouble. Just sign your name.”
”No, I'm very sorry; but it's impossible.”
He got up, and began to walk about the room, fuming angrily.
”Then I shall draw on the firm.”
”Then I shall have to call in Mr. Prentice, and ask him to protect the firm--to go to the law courts if necessary.”
”Oh, that's all my aunt. I've had enough of Mr. Prentice--Mr. Prentice isn't my wet nurse.”
”d.i.c.k, be reasonable. Be kind to me. Don't you see, yourself, that--”
”I'm not going to have you and old Prentice treating me as if I was a baby in arms--lecturing, and preaching to me about the firm. You and Prentice aren't the firm. I'm just as much the firm as you are.”
”Have I put myself forward? Do I ever deny your rights?”
”Be d.a.m.ned to Prentice.” He took his hands out of his overcoat pockets, and brandished them furiously. ”Prentice was my enemy from the very beginning;” and he raised his voice. It seemed as if he was purposely working himself into a pa.s.sion. ”I was a fool to submit to his bounce. I ought to have had a marriage settlement--money properly settled on me--and I was a fool to let him jew me out of it.”
”I gave you a half share.”
”Yes, in the business--but _only_ the business.”
”Wasn't that enough for you?”
”Yes, in good times, no doubt. But what about bad times? And what the devil did I know of the business before I came into it? Nothing was explained to me. I came in blindfold. I took everything on trust.”
”Oh, I think you understood it was a paying concern.”
”It wasn't _proved_ to me, anyhow. No one took the trouble to let me see the books--and give me the plain figures. Oh, no, that would have been beneath your dignity.”
”Or beneath yours, d.i.c.k?”
”Yes, and I was a fool to consider my dignity. That was old Prentice again. I suppose he took his cue from you. You had put your heads together, and decided that I was to behave like the good boy in the copy-books. Open your mouth and shut your eyes, and see what G.o.d will send you.”