"I should, at least, never have ventured to suggest that anything except good-nature influenced you," he said.
"Still, you felt it? Well, you were considerably used up when you came in, and, as I sent you to the Surveyor, who didn't seem to have any use for you, I felt myself responsible. That appears sufficient?"
Now, Brooke had mixed with men of a good many different stations, and he was observant, and, as might have been expected, by no means diffident.
"Since you ask, I scarcely think it does," he said.
Saxton laughed. "Take a cigar. That's the kind of talk I like. We'll come to the point right away."
Brooke lighted a cigar, and found it good. "Thanks. I'm willing to listen as long as appears necessary," he said.
"You have a kind of grievance against Devine?"
"I have. According to my notion of ethics, he owes me six thousand dollars, and I shall not be quite content until I get them out of him, although that may never happen. I feel just now that it would please me especially to make him smart as well, which I quite realize, is unnecessary folly."
The Canadian nodded, and shook the ash from his cigar. "Exactly," he said. "A man with sense keeps his eye on the dollars, and leaves out the sentiment. It's quite apt to get in his way and trip him up. Well, suppose I could give you a chance of getting those dollars back?"
"I should be very much inclined to take it. Still, presumably, you do not mean to do it out of pure good-nature?"