"Uncle Jacob," said Bert, "I have twenty dollars left of the amount you gave me for expenses. Here it is."
"Keep it, Bert. You will need it."
"But, Uncle Jacob, I have already put you to too great expense. If you were a rich man——"
Jacob Marlowe smiled.
"I can spare the money," he said. "Don't trouble yourself on that score. You have done yourself great credit, Bert, and shown great shrewdness in your expedition in search of Mr. Harding. I am not sure that you would not make a good detective."
"I have no ambition in that direction, Uncle Jacob. I hope to get a little better education, and then to devote myself to business."
"I think you will have an opportunity to do both, Bert."
"Do you think you can get me a place of some kind in New York? I know, of course, that I must work before I can afford to study."
"We will speak of that later. Now I have to propose that we all go down to Lakeville to meet your father and mother, and incidentally to have an interview with Albert Marlowe."
"Do you wish me to go, too?" asked Ralph Harding.