“Of course not. I pretended I didn’t know anything about you. What do you think the old man wants me to do?”
“What?”
“He thinks you’ll come and see me, sooner or later, and asked me to telegraph to him when you did, so that he might come for you.”
“You wouldn’t do it, would you, Sam?” said Joshua, uneasily.
“Do you think I’d betray a friend?” demanded Sam, loftily. “No, Joshua; I am your firm friend. I will never desert you, although your father offered me money if I would.”
“Did he?”
“Yes,” answered Sam.
He was about to mention how much, but it occurred to him that, if he didn’t mention the smallness of the sum, he would get more credit for disinterested friendship.
“How much?”
“Oh, no doubt he would come down handsomely; but, as I had no intention of betraying you, I didn’t inquire.”