"So they've done it, have they?" he drawled out. "I thought they would, from something Billy said."
"What does Billy know about it?"
"Oh yes, Billy knows. I expect they consulted him, in fact."
"I want to be able to tell them that you agree with me; that's why I've spoken to you about it."
"By all means tell them I agree with you," yawned Gilly; he seemed more than ordinarily lazy that morning—the reaction from the triumph of the text-book still on him, no doubt. Yet there was a lurking gleam of amusement in his eye.
"Apart from the money—and I haven't got it—it would take far too much time. I'm pretty hard worked as it is, with the business opening up in this way. I'm quite clear that it wouldn't be fair to the business—and not fair to you either. I've slept on it, and I'm quite clear about it."
"Oh, are you? Then by no means tell them I agree with you."
Surprise the second! "You don't?" Andy ejaculated; there was a note of pleasure in his voice.
"I'm a lazy hound, I know," Gilly pursued. "If there is another fellow to do the work, I let him do it. Perhaps some day, if we go on booming, we can take in another fellow. If so, I shall certainly incite him to do the work. Meanwhile I'm not such a lazy beast as to let you miss this chance on my account. My word, I should get it hot from Billy—and Doris!" He stretched himself luxuriously. "There's a perfectly plain way out of this; I must work." He looked up at his partner humorously. "Though you mayn't believe it, I can work, when I want a thing very much."
"But what is there for you to want here?" asked Andy.