Part 43 (1/2)
”I mean that I need the money, and must have it.”
”I'd pay it to you if I had it, but I haven't.”
”You must get it.”
”How can I? My father won't give it to me.”
”Listen to me. I am in earnest. I want to ask you a question. Suppose you had won, wouldn't you have expected me to pay you?”
”Why, yes, I suppose so.”
”Well, it's a poor rule that doesn't work both ways. I tell you, Phil, I need that money. I need it to pay my hotel bill.”
”Was that what you depended upon to pay your bills?” asked Philip, with awakening suspicion. ”I thought you had plenty of money.”
This was what Congreve had represented to his dupe, but the question by no means disconcerted him.
”Of course,” he said; ”but a man can't always command his resources. I have sent in two different directions for money, but they have put me off, so I have to fall back on you.”
”I'd like to pay the money, and get it off my mind,” said Philip, uncomfortably, ”but the fact of it is I can't.”
”This is a debt of honor. Gentlemen always pay their debts of honor. It takes precedence of all other claims.”
”I have no other claims. That is all I owe to anybody.”
”Well, when can you let me have the money?”
”I am sure I don't know,” returned Philip, sullenly. ”I didn't expect you were going to press me so.”
James Congreve saw that Philip had reached the point which he desired.
”I press you because I have to,” he said. ”I have already told you how you can settle the claim.”
”How?” asked Philip, uneasily.
He could guess, for there had been conversation on that point before.
”You know what I mean. Get hold of some of your father's government bonds,” said Congreve, insinuatingly.
”I don't want to become a thief.”
”Pooh! Isn't he your father, and ain't you an only son? Won't it all be yours sometime?”
”Yes, but----”
”Oh, don't bother with buts! That makes all the difference in the world.”
”I couldn't do it without being suspected,” objected Philip, with whom this was the princ.i.p.al consideration.
”Yes, you can. You'll give the bonds to me, and I will dispose of them.