As if it was useless to ask further questions, Mr. Kippilaw looked over some papers which Shafto had sent for his consideration, and his countenance lowered and his white bushy eyebrows became closely knitted as he did so, while Shafto watched him with an aspect of languid interest which he was far from feeling, and sucked the ivory head of his crutch-stick the while.
'Why, Mr. Shafto,' said Mr. Kippilaw, 'this is rank dishonesty.'
'What is?'
'This mess I am contemplating.'
'Don't talk thus to me; the greatest robbers in the world, after one's own family lawyers——'
'Sir!' interrupted Mr. Kippilaw, smiting the table with his hand, and looking dangerous.
'To business, then,' said Shafto sulkily.
'There's this bill of Reuben Levi, the London money-lender, of which I have a note, drawn originally for £500, at three months, bearing interest at sixty per cent., and renewed three times!'
'Well?'
'The money value to the drawer is not likely to be much at the close of the precious transaction.'