"They carry high interest and fall due at a future date. Then I have reasons for thinking the holders are agents for a principal in the background."
"The fellow must take a risk, because Dick's not of age. Hasn't the law something to say about a minor's debts?"
"I'm not sure the risk is as big as it looks. Would ye expect a Johnstone o' Appleyard to repudiate his obligations?"
"No," said Andrew. "When you come to think of it, such a thing's impossible."
"Weel, there's another point; your cousin did not tell us all he owed."
Andrew frowned.
"I must admit that I was afraid Dick hadn't been quite straight with us. What's to be done? Can we take him away from Staffer?"
"Why would ye wish that?" Mackellar asked sharply.
"It's not easy to explain, and my position's difficult. Dick thinks highly of the fellow, and I can't see anything that's openly wrong with him. Still, one feels he hasn't a good influence on Dick."
"Just that," Mackellar dryly returned. "Dick's mother put the lad into Staffer's hands and I had no power to stop her. If Staffer abused his position, it would give me a handle, but I cannot find fault with anything he does. A careful, well-thought-of man, and exact to a penny in the estate accounts."