The lawyer coughed the cough of consequence. “This amount is in my care; in fact, it is deposited in my bank, awaiting your orders.”
Jimmie leaned heavily on the office-boy to support himself.
“You don’t look it,” he said to the lawyer, “but are you addicted to the use and abuse of strong things of any kind?”
“Sir!” said the lawyer.
“I slipped my trolley,” said Jimmie. “I didn’t know I had any maternal uncle. I didn’t know he had five thousand dollars. I don’t know where he got it, and I don’t know where I am, nor why you are here, nor anything else.” He roused himself. “Say,” said he, “if you ain’t got me down here to enjoy my looks, produce.”
“Hey?” said the lawyer.
“Yes,” said Jimmie, “just that. Hay; make it while the sun shines. Clear weather to-day. I don’t savvy this thing, up nor down. You let me have two hundred dollars, and it will look like business. All I want to do is to feel it. I have been trying to feel two hundred dollars for three years, and the nearest I have got to it is on the instalment plan.”
The lawyer pushed him a book.
“Make out a check,” said he.
Jimmie swallowed all the air in the room, but yet made out the check.