“Yes, sir, but couldn’t keep it,” cried the young man angrily.
“Don’t—don’t jump on me now I’m down, Clive, my boy,” cried the Doctor piteously. “I have been an old fool. I ought to have trusted you that you would warn me. But you were away; all London was ringing with the business, and in my rage and disappointment I thought I was doing right.”
“I suppose so,” said Clive bitterly.
“But it is not too late. We’ll go up to your brother at once.”
“My brother will only be too glad to triumph over you.”
“But this Mr Wrigley?”
“Knew perfectly well what he was about, or he would not have bought.”
“But I must buy again, if not from him—from some one else.”
“You cannot. As soon as the truth is known the shares will go back to their old place at a bound, and then in the reaction rise rapidly, for the public will grasp that the mine must be as it is, exceedingly valuable.”
“But before the truth is known.”