He closed the door after the young officer, and pointed to a chair.
“Sit down, my lad,” he said pleasantly. “Now I’ll be bound to say I can guess what you are about to say.”
“You can, sir?” said Beck eagerly.
“I think so,” said Mr Elthorne, with rather a set smile on his lips. “You were going to tell me that you have to start for the East in a very few days—am I right so far?”
“Yes, sir, quite.”
“And that, as I have known you from a boy, you felt that without hesitation you might speak to me and not trouble your father. Still right?”
“Yes, sir—I think so.”
“I felt it at once,” said Mr Elthorne nodding. “Well, yes, my lad, I will try and oblige you. How much do you want?”
“Want? How much?” cried the young man, starting up with his face flushing. “Did you think I wanted to borrow money, sir?”
“Yes, my lad, of course.”