Part 44 (1/2)
”Do you want to quarrel, Pradelle?”
”Not I, dear boy; I'm dumb.”
He said no more on that subject, but he had said enough. That was the truth then. Madelaine had given him up on that account, and the sting rankled in Harry's breast.
”Money goes to the bank every day, you say?” said Pradelle.
”Yes. Crampton takes it!”
”But that sum of money in notes? How much is there of that?”
”Five hundred.”
”Why don't that go to the bank?”
”I don't know. A deposit, I think; likely to be called for.”
”May be; but that's our game, Harry. The other could not be managed without being missed; this, you see, is not in use.”
”Pradelle, it's madness.”
”Say Vic, dear boy.”
”Well, Vic, I say it's madness.”
”Nothing of the kind. It's making use of a little coin that you can get at easily. Why, hang it, old fellow, you talk as if I were asking you to steal the money.”
”Hus.h.!.+ Don't talk like that.”
”Well, you aggravate me so. Now, am I trying to serve you, or am I not?”
”To serve me, of course.”
”Yes, and you behave like a child.”
”I want to behave like an honourable man to my father's friend.”
”Oh, if you are going to preach I'm off.”
”I'm not going to preach.”
”Then do act like a man. Here is your opportunity. You know what the old chap said about the tide in the affairs of men?”
Harry nodded.
”Well, your tide is at its height. You are going to seize your opportunity, and then you can do as you like. Why you might turn the tables on Miss Madelaine.”
”If you don't want to quarrel, just leave her name alone,” said Harry, with a bulldog-like growl.
”Oh, I'll never mention it again if you like. Now, then, once for all, is it business?”