“There cannot be a doubt now but that this knave has discovered all about old Bertram’s murder; and yet for a price he will screen the guilty, and have the innocent to suffer. What a scoundrel this fellow is! Yes, ’tis true: from little things, thieves and rogues take to greater ones, until, at last, the gallows is their fate. I little thought it would come to this.”
For some time he shaded his face with his snow-white hand, in deep thought.
But at last he aroused himself, and even attempted to be gay, as he said,
“You wish to borrow that sum for a short time, eh?”
“Yes,” said the captain, smiling; “I wish to borrow it, if you like to call it so, and will return it,” he added, very ominously, “whenever you like to demand it. You understand?”
“But I have not such a sum at command. You do not want it all at once, I suppose?”
“No; a few hundreds to commence with, and the other by instalments will suit me; I’m not very particular with friends.”
“But how am I to get this large amount together?” said Phillip. “If my father is rich I am not.”
“Oh, you can get it easily enough. I dare say you have written your father’s signature before now.”
“What!” said Phillip, reddening.