"Let's keep jokes outside of the argument," said Beale truculently, "where did you see him?"
"Believe me, I never saw him—if I had a message to send, my cashier—ah—Miss Glaum, an admirable young lady—carried it for me."
"Hilda Glaum!"
Beale struck his palm. Why had he not thought of Hilda Glaum before?
"That's about all I want to ask you, Mr. White," he said mildly; "you're a lucky man."
"Lucky, sir!" Mr. White recovered his hauteur as quickly as Beale's aggressiveness passed. "I fail to perceive my fortune. I fail to see, sir, where luck comes in."
"You have your money back," said Beale significantly, "if you hadn't been pressed for money and had not pressed van Heerden you would have whistled for it."
"Do you suggest," demanded White, in his best judicial manner, "do you suggest in the presence of a witness with a due appreciation of the actionable character of your words that Doctor van Heerden is a common swindler?"
"Not common," replied Beale, "thank goodness!"