“Yes, I have unbounded faith in it.”
“I left the most of my money at the hotel in charge of the clerk, but here’s a small amount which says that I did open that lock, and that I can do it again,” said Guy, drawing from his pocket a twenty-dollar bill, which his friend and partner had furnished him for this very purpose.
Jones drummed with his foot on the floor, puffed out his cheeks, and scratched his head like a man in deep perplexity. He looked first at Whitney, then at Guy, then down at the money that had been placed on the table, and finally dropped into his chair again.
“I believe I’ll take a hand in this,” said Whitney. “I don’t often do things of this kind, in fact never, unless I see a chance to make something, but I’ll stake twenty-five dollars on it just for luck.”
Mr. Jones again arose to his feet and nervously rubbed his chin as if he were completely bewildered by this turn of events, all the while watching the movements of Whitney, who produced his pocket-book and counted out the sum he had named.
“Gentlemen,” said the commercial traveler, “when I see persons willing to wager such large sums of money as those you have laid upon the table, I always know they are betting on a sure thing.”
This remark had just the effect that Mr. Jones intended it should have. It led Whitney to believe that in spite of all he had said, the patentee had suddenly lost faith in his invention.
After a moment’s hesitation he brought out his pocket-book again and counted down twenty-five dollars more, which he also placed upon the table.
“Now, Robinson, what are you going to do about it?” asked Guy.
“Why, when I am among gentlemen I do as gentlemen do, of course,” replied Mr. Jones. “But to tell the truth, the confident manner in which you act and speak convinces me that I have made a grand mistake.”