The old man sighed, and looked at him with deep commiseration.
“If our separation must indeed be final,” said he, at last, “I will take care that you shall suffer no loss. You shall have your full share of the capital.”
“I leave that entirely to you,” said Brandon.
“Fortunately our business is not much scattered. A settlement can easily be made, and I will arrange it so that you shall not have any loss. Our balance-sheet was made out only last month, and it showed our firm to be worth thirty thousand pounds. Half of this is yours, and—”
“Half!” interrupted the other. “My dear friend, you mean a quarter.”
The old man waved his hand.
“I said half, and I mean half.”
“I will never consent.”
“You must.”
“Never.”