"If I ask it as a special favour?" he pleaded.
"There's no use in my going, Cal," Stuart said persuasively, "I can tell you exactly where to go, the guides to get, and the kind of boats you'll need. You'll get along better without than with me."
"I won't go without you," the financier said peevishly.
"But why?"
"Dozens of reasons. You know the place, you know all about the birds, you can teach me the ins and outs of the business and I can trust you. I know that you won't try to worm out of me any information my enemies would like to know. Besides, Jim, you're a friend. It would rest and help me to be with you on such a trip. I can't offer you money, you won't let me. All right. I appeal to the boy I used to know at college, the fellow who fought for me one day. I need you worse now, old man."
Stuart hesitated and looked at Nan who had stood motionless while Bivens spoke.
"Well, if that's the way you put it, I'll take a vacation and go with you for a month."
Bivens seized his hand and pressed it gratefully.
"Best medicine I've had in weeks."
Nan walked slowly across the room, looked into his eyes and said, with emotion: