"Friendship for my grandfather, I suppose."
But he stammered over the words, and Mr. Sheldrake said sharply,
"You don't seem quite certain as to his motive, Alf."
"I know that there's a great friendship between him and my grandfather," said Alfred, and with a fuller consciousness of what was at stake; "and although I have never asked myself the question, I should say that what he has done has been prompted by friendship."
"Not by love?"
"Love for whom?" inquired Alfred in his turn, with ready cunning.
"Well, let that pass," replied Mr. Sheldrake, only too willing not to have his doubts confirmed. "I daresay I can square the account between us, if we ever come across each other. I know I can make it even with you. He has a motive, doubtless, and I don't believe in disinterested friendship. Now we will come to our own business." He took the papers which he had laid aside, and looked over them. "You know what these are?"
"I see some of my bills among them."
"Accounts of money you owe me--dishonoured acceptances, and other documents equally valuable. Here is your bill for sixty pounds, due three weeks since, dishonoured, and for which you were served with a writ."
"As a mere matter of form, I understood you to say," put in Alfred, trembling.