“Oh! because I thought—”
“No, sir, you did not. A man of your ability knows I would not risk ten thousand pounds for want of a purchase I could not lose ten shillings by ——. Ore is not a fancy article.”
“Oh! ah! yes, very true; no, of course not. One question more. Where did the gold come from?”
“California.”
“But, I mean, how did you get it?”
“I bought it out of a shop window those two knowing ones pass twice every day of their lives.”
“Ha! ha! ha!”
“You pass it oftener than that, sir. Excuse me, sir; I must catch the train. But one word before I go. My name must never be mentioned in this business.”
“Very well; it never shall transpire, upon my honor.”
Meadows felt pretty safe. As he put on his greatcoat he thought to himself: “When the story is blown and laughed over, this man's vanity will keep my name out of it. He won't miss a chance of telling the world how clever he is. My game is to pass for honest, not for clever, no, thank you.”