"But you have no means of knowing in which direction it lies?"
"No."
"Your only hope is to raise the five hundred dollars?"
"That is my only hope, and that can scarcely be called a hope, for I must have the money within a day or two, or my boy will be dead."
"Hum! hum!" coughed the professor. "This is a very unfortunate affair—very unfortunate. I am not a wealthy man, but I——"
"You will aid me?" shouted the old man, joyously. "Heaven will bless you, sir—Heaven will bless you!"
"I have not said so—I have not said I would aid you," Scotch hastily said. "I am going to consider the matter—I'll think it over."
"Then I have no hope."
"Why not?"
"If your heart is not opened now, it will never open. My poor boy is lost, and I am ready for death!"