“What!” exclaimed Mr. Hunt. “You refuse my magnificent offer?”
“You see, Paul is very young, sir,” put in Rob, “and he’s not quite sure that it is magnificent.”
“I do not recognize you in this matter, boy!” majestically declared Mr. Hunt, who was rapidly losing his temper. What he had thought would be a simple matter was turning out to be far more complex than he had imagined.
“At any rate,” he said, conquering his rage with an effort, and turning to Paul with a smile that was meant to be amiable, but which was positively wolfish; “at any rate, you will allow a poor, inquisitive mortal to see this marvelous craft?”
“Don’t you do it,” prompted Tubby, in a loud whisper.
Hunt overheard, and turned quick as a flash.
“I should think that a boy of your brains and ability, Paul, would not allow himself to be led by the nose by a lot of impudent puppies——”
“Or scheming promoters,” put in Rob quietly.
“How dare you, sir! Do you mean to insinuate——”
“I don’t insinuate anything. The insinuation is your own,” was the quiet reply.