“Look here, sir,” said Brace: “my brother will be down soon. Wait a little while, and then you can ask him about his plans.”
“No, thankye, sir,” said the man. “He’s short and sharp, and maybe he wouldn’t like it. You’re easier to deal with. Don’t be huffy. Two fellows meeting out here in a place like this ought to help one another.”
“I see,” said Brace good-humouredly. “Now then, you want me to help you in something?”
“To be sure. That’s it exactly.”
“Well, sir, what is it?”
“Look here, never mind the sir. That’s so English. Now you’re getting stand-offy again, as if you thought I was a sharper with a story about being hard up.”
“H’m!” coughed Brace.
“Hah! that’s what you did think?”
“Well, perhaps so.”
“No perhaps about it, squire. But you’re wrong. I am hard up, but it isn’t for dollars.”