“Of course he did, and it means making an end to the trouble. I shall only have to go on paying the interest.”
“Till Mr Simpson chooses to come down upon me and make me pay,” said Richard, with a laugh full of annoyance.
“No, he won’t; he said he wouldn’t. It’s such a little sum, too—nothing to you! Here, come on with me at once, and let’s settle it.”
Richard Frayne sat back in his chair, looking straight before him, unconscious of the fact that his cousin was watching him narrowly, and who now went on with forced gaiety—
“Wish I hadn’t been such a fool as to keep it to myself. Here it has been worrying my very life out for months, and made me as irritable as a wasp. You are a good fellow, Dick! But, honour bright, I didn’t like to ask you.”
Richard remained silent.
“There, don’t think about it any more. Come on.”
“But it wants thinking about, Mark.”
“What nonsense! You don’t know how easy these things are.”
“I’ve often heard,” said Richard, drily.