"Keep to your word, lad; I'm the loser, for I thought it likely the two of us might strike up a partnership."
"Why not the three of us?" asked Basil, to whom the prospect of working with Old Corrie was very agreeable.
"Because in the first place it wouldn't suit me, and in the second it wouldn't suit him."
"But if he were willing?"
Old Corrie bent his brows kindly upon Basil's ingenuous face. "Ask him, Master Basil."
"Will you not listen to me first? I want to speak to you about your mare."
"A quarter of an hour more or less won't bring her back, will it?" said Old Corrie, with no touch of reproach in his voice. "Go and speak to your mate, and let me know what he says."
Basil departed and returned. It was as Old Corrie supposed: Chaytor was not willing to admit Corrie into their partnership.
"He says you took a dislike to him from the first," said Basil.
"Almost my own words," said Old Corrie, with a laugh. "He's a shrewd customer."