Captain Halliday was a man about town; one who had been rich, but who had worked very hard to make himself poor—and nearly succeeded. He was a well-known man, and a member of a fast club, at which high play formed the chief amusement.
Jasper knew him socially, and got up—a thing he did not often do—to shake hands.
"How do you do?" he said, motioning him to a chair. "Anything I can do for you?"
It was generally understood by Jasper's acquaintances that Jasper's time was money, and they respected the hours devoted by him to business.
Captain Halliday smiled.
"You always come to the point, Adelstone," he replied. "Yes, I want a little advice."
Jasper sat down and clasped his hands over his knee; they were very white and carefully-kept hands.
"Hope I may be able to give it to you. What is it?"
"Well look here," said the captain, "you don't mind my smoking a cigarette, do you? I can always talk better while I am smoking."
"Not at all—I like it," said Jasper.