"I? My dear man, what should I do about it? What can I do? I have explained my situation to him. I am, owing to circumstances and the—ah—machinations of certain individuals—both circumstances and individuals of your acquaintance, I believe—in a most unfortunate position financially. I have no money, or very little. Our—your young protege wished to risk some of his money in a certain speculation. I did the same. The speculation was considered good at the time. I still consider it good, although profit may be deferred. He took the risk with his eyes open. He is of age. He is not a child, although—pardon me—this new action of his might lead one to think him such. I am sorry for him, but I do not consider myself at all responsible."
"I see. But he has used money which wasn't his to speculate with."
"I am sorry, deeply sorry. But—is that my fault?
"Well, that might be a question, mightn't it? You knew he was usin' that money?"
"Pardon me—pardon me, Kendrick; but is that—ah—strictly true?"
"Well, he says it is. However, the question is just this: Will you help him out by buyin' up his share in this C. M. deal? Pay him back his sixteen hundred and take the whole thing over yourself?"
Mr. Phillips for the first time permitted himself the luxury of a real smile.
"My dear man," he observed, "you're not seriously offering such a proposition as that, are you? You must be joking."
"It's no joke to poor George. And he's only a boy, after all. You wouldn't want him to go to jail."
The smile disappeared. "I should be pained," protested Egbert, and proved it by looking pained. "It would grieve me deeply. But I can't think such a contingency possible. No, no; not possible. And in time—my brokers assure me a very short time—the stock will advance."