"Ask it."
"If, after all, the search should be successful, is it likely you would be in a better position than you are now? I am taking a liberty, I know, but I don't mean it as such. You told me at first you were not overburdened with funds; if it has been all going out and none coming in, you must be worse off now."
"I am very much worse off, Mr. Philpott. I will answer your question. Should I succeed in finding the man I am hunting--a poor hunt it has proved to be, with no quarry in view--I have reason to believe that I should obtain funds which would enable me to discharge any liabilities I may incur."
"Thank you, sir," said Mr. Philpott, pushing across the table the money which Basil had paid him; "then suppose I wait."
"No," said Basil gently, "take it while you are sure of it, and you have a family."
"But I can afford to wait, sir. If I lost ten times as much it would not break me."
"I must insist upon you taking it, Mr. Philpott."
It was the pride of the poor gentleman, who would leave himself penniless rather than leave an obligation unsettled. Mr. Philpott recognised it as such, and recognised also that it marked the difference between them--which increased the respect he felt for Basil. He pocketed the money reluctantly.
"Send your wife up to me, Mr. Philpott."
"I will, sir."