"Sign here, if you please," said Solon suavely, "and I will give you the sum promised."
As he spoke he drew from his wallet a roll of ten ten-dollar bills, which he judged would look tempting to a woman of Mrs. Mason's limited means.
"If you will leave this paper here, Solon," said the widow, "I will show it to Mark when he gets home, and ask his advice."
Mr. Talbot frowned and looked vexed.
"Ask advice of a boy of sixteen!" he sneered. "Surely you are better able to judge what is best than he."
"I am not sure about that. At any rate he is interested, and I prefer to wait till I see him."
"Then the offer of a hundred dollars is withdrawn."
"Just as you think best, Solon. I shall not sign without consulting Mark."
"Well, I will leave the paper, then," said Talbot, finding it hard to conceal his chagrin. "I hope for your sake that Mark will advise you sensibly."
"I think he will. He is young, but he has always shown good judgment."