"I want to borrow some money for about six months," he said.
"How much do you want?" Holbrook asked, and when Mordaunt told him, looked thoughtful. Mordaunt had borrowed before and had punctually repaid principal and interest.
"We are not money-lenders, you know," he said. "I negotiated the last loan rather as a favor than a matter of business."
Mordaunt smiled indulgently. "For all that, you lend money; your clients', I suppose. I don't know if your legal business would keep you going long."
"If we invest in anything outside the regular high-class securities, we run some risk."
"I don't think the risk is great," Mordaunt replied. "I sometimes speculate, and you have grounds for knowing I'm generally lucky. Well, some friends floated a small private company to develop a West Indian estate and we have spent much of our capital on new plantations. The value of our produce is rising, but we need funds to carry us on until the crop is shipped and have agreed to a fresh levy. I must pay my share."
"The sum is large."
"You lent me nearly as much before."
"I did," said Holbrook. "Things were different then——"
He stopped, and Mordaunt gave him a keen glance. Holbrook's hesitation was curious.