‘What a lowering face that Askam has!’ was the observation which began the conversation.
‘His face can’t be more lowering than his temper,’ replied some one else.
‘Hah! I see there’s his inseparable chum, not so far off him.’
‘Gilbert Langstroth, do you mean? Oh yes! He’s never so far away from him. I have heard that that young man has a very long head, and would not object to going into partnership with Otho Askam—Askam to supply the money, and Langstroth the brains.’
The other laughed. ‘What, on Arthur Orton’s plan, do you mean? “Some people plenty money and no brains, and other people plenty brains and no——”’
‘Oh, come! That’s too bad. Langstroth is a gentleman.’
‘I never said he wasn’t, that I know of. Gentlemen have got to live, like other people, though these radicals’ (with a growl) ‘seem to grudge us our very existence.’
‘Oh, hang all radicals! You say Langstroth is a gentleman—Gilbert, I mean. His brother is, at any rate. I don’t know a better fellow anywhere.’
‘No, nor I.’ The assent was general. Then some one else said—
‘He doesn’t seem to get married.’