“Suppose you had a considerable sum of money given you, what would you do with it?”
“If I had five hundred dollars, I should be able to defeat the schemes of a villain, and restore a young lady to her rights.”
“That seems interesting. Tell me the circumstances.”
Dodger told the story as briefly as he could. He was encouraged to find that the stranger listened to him with attention.
“Do you know,” he said, reflectively, “you have done for me what I once did for another—a rich man? The case was very similar. I was a poor boy at the time. Do you know what he gave me?”
“What was it, sir?”
“A dollar! What do you think of that for generosity?”
“Well, sir, it wasn’t exactly liberal. Did you accept it?”
“No. I told him that I didn’t wish to inconvenience him. But I asked you how much money you supposed I had. I will tell you. In a wallet I have eleven thousand dollars in bank notes and securities.”
“That is a fortune,” said Dodger, dazzled at the mention of such a sum.