“Yes, I’ve been going it in the forest, Dally.”
“Been hunting the buffalo and chumming up with his old friend, Spotted Bull,” said Arkroyd. “Bet you anything he hasn’t been out of London, Dally.”
“Take him,” said Jack. “I’ve been out of London on a little matter of business.”
“He’s been robbing a bank,” said Arkroyd, “or breaking one.”
“Neither. Stop chaffing, you two, and tell a fellow what’s going on.”
“Shall we tell him, Dally? Perhaps he’ll try to cut us out. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to start a joint stock company, all club together, you know, and work it in that way, the one who wins to share with the other fellows.”
“Wins what? What on earth are you talking about? Is it a sweepstake, a handicap, or what——”
“No, my noble Savage. It’s the heiress.”
“Oh,” said Jack, indifferently, and he sipped his claret critically.
“What has come to you, Jack? Have you decided to cut the world or have heiresses become unnecessary? Perhaps someone has left you a fortune, old man; if so, nobody will be more delighted than I shall be—to help you spend it.”