"You are quite right," said Mr. Sparhawk. "It's an excellent business, and prospering. But there come times in mercantile life," with a little gesture of regret, "when ready money must be reckoned with."
"That is true, Mr. Sparhawk," said Amos soothingly. "Not a day passes but that is brought home to me."
"What would you say," added Mr. Sparhawk, "to loaning Mr. Stroude a matter of three thousand dollars—gold?"
"How soon?" asked Amos Bulfinch, looking at Stroude in a most beneficent manner.
"To-day," said the merchant.
"To-day? Impossible! That is the way with all of them," to Mr. Sparhawk. "They think I have only to pick the money up. What security is there?"
Mr. Stroude displayed some documents, which Amos studied minutely. Nathaniel reëntered just then; and he also gave the matter the closest attention.
"And what names?" asked the money-lender. "Of course, they must be good ones."
Stroude grudgingly mentioned one or two; and father and son shook their heads at each other.
"We have them already," said Amos.