"Yes, just about," there was in his eye a suspicion that I was raving, but that didn't keep me from finishing.
"And your wife is some over twenty—your partner a little older than you."
"Yes."
"You might do well to put up the sign, 'safety first,' though it's a lying thing where generally used. I advise that you trim sail and keep in deep water for a while. No use getting excited at your age. Let the situation be entirely clear when undertaking big financial stunts. Wait until the new President is well seated in his chair. I look for squalls."
"It may be you are right—I will give your advice serious consideration," said he, soberly, but I felt that he was not convinced.
"I don't like to send you home with a wet blanket around you, but you are too big, and have too much courage to shrink from the truth. Be governed by foresight as well as hindsight. Wait and see how the times are going to be before you touch anything requiring big borrowing. So long, boy, I must be going."
"I knew you'd tell me what you thought," he exclaimed, wringing my hand good-bye.
I didn't see Howard Byng for many years after that.