'I can lend it you without any inconvenience,' said Harry. 'When do you want it—not to-night, I suppose?'
'No—not to-night—I should like to have it early to-morrow morning; but I see you don't like it, so I'll manage it some other way.'
'I don't know what you mean by not liking it. I have not the slightest objection to lending you any money I can spare. I don't think you'll find any other of your friends who will like it better. You can have it by eleven o'clock to-morrow.'
Intimate as the two men were, there had hitherto been very little borrowing or lending between them; and now Alaric felt as though he owed it to his intimacy with his friend to explain to him why he wanted so large a sum in so short a time. He felt, moreover, that he would not himself be so much ashamed of what he had done if he could confess it to some one else. He could then solace himself with the reflection that he had done nothing secret. Norman, he supposed, would be displeased; but then Norman's displeasure could not injure him, and with Norman there would be no danger that the affair would go any further.
'You must think it very strange,' said he, 'that I should want such a sum; but the truth is I have bought some shares.'
'Railway shares?' said Norman, in a tone that certainly did not signify approval. He disliked speculation altogether, and had an old-fashioned idea that men who do speculate, should have money wherewith to do it.
'No—not railway shares exactly.'
'Canal?' suggested Norman.
'No—not canal.'
'Gas?'