"Mr. Ferguson must be a weak man to be so easily duped. If it were my case, he wouldn't find it so easy to impose upon me."
"I don't know how he does it, but he has cut me out entirely. Mr. Ferguson won't hear a word against his favorite."
"You are unfortunate, but we are in the same position there. He has conspired to keep you down, and he is now plotting to extort money from me by his preposterous claims."
"Do you think he stands any chance?"
"No. But if he produces this paper of his, he might bring a suit against me which would be annoying. You know there are some people who are always ready to believe the worst, and I dare say he would convince some that his claims were just, and that I had acted fraudulently. Now that would be unpleasant to me, though I should be certain to win at law."
"Of course. What are you going to do about it, Mr. Grey?"
"To ask your assistance, for which I shall be ready to pay."
"But what can I do?" asked Maurice, in some astonishment.
"I will tell you," said James Grey, hitching his chair nearer that of his young visitor; "but, of course, you will keep my confidence?"
"Certainly."