"I act on the assumption that Wharton Kendrick will get well," I replied. "And if he gets well only to find that I have made a general assignment of his business, how much further do you suppose he will trust me with his affairs?"
"That's all right for you," said Partridge. "But how shall we look when we present our account to the syndicate and show that we have loaned one of our members three hundred and fifty thousand without security? How long do you think it would be before we got a chance to handle any more of their money? We'd be waiting till the next day after never, I guess."
The knot of circumstances seemed to be pretty firmly tangled, and I saw no way but to cut it by a bold stroke.
"I don't want to act without your consent--" I began.
"You have no right to act without our consent," interrupted Partridge, with quick insight into my resolve.
"Right or not, I have the power. And you will be relieved of responsibility if I pay the money without your consent."
"You wouldn't do that!" cried Nelson and Partridge in a breath, their faces showing signs of rising temper.
"I certainly shall do it before I see Wharton Kendrick's notes go to protest and a financial panic start in San Francisco."
Partridge and Nelson looked at me with concern and anger pictured on their faces. But before either could speak, the door opened and William T. Coleman entered.
"You're just in time, Coleman," said Partridge explosively. "See if you can't put reason into this young man's head."