“There’s his check!” said Kit, and tore the form. “Perhaps I’m extravagant, but I don’t see myself using their money.”
“Sometimes to let yourself go is expensive,” Jasper remarked. “However, I imagined you were going to give us your confidence.”
Kit frowned and his pose got stiff. The lines of his athletic body were youthful, but he faced the others steadily and his look was stern. Alan was puzzled. He knew Kit’s cheerful carelessness, and had thought to see him embarrassed, but the lad was marked by something of Jasper’s calm. In fact, he looked like Jasper. Kit narrated his interview with Colvin and Meredith. He saw Jasper was interested, but that was all, and when he stopped the old fellow lighted a cigarette.
“Since it looks as if the company’s competitors copied the boiler, I rather think Colvin’s annoyance is logical. You declared you had nothing to do with it?”
“That is so, sir. I was some time at the yard, and I thought Colvin ought to know me.”
“A big company’s manager does not take much for granted. You were content with a plain denial? You did not try to indicate who was accountable?”
Kit hesitated. He had said nothing about Blake and did not mean to do so, but Jasper was very keen, and Kit saw he noted his hesitation.
“I don’t know, sir. Besides, it’s possible the plans were not copied.”
“Colvin does not seem to doubt,” said Jasper dryly. “You were rather generous not long since!”
“It looks as if I were rash; but I didn’t reckon on your imagining I used money I ought not have.”