"I shall be two-and-twenty in a month," was Aylmer's reply.
"And on my next birthday I shall be twenty-nine. You must see what a gulf of experience lies between us. Now, Aylmer, I like you."
"You are the best friend a young fellow ever had," was Aylmer's reply.
"And I don't want to see you going straight to the devil."
Aylmer fidgeted.
"You may or may not be right with regard to Strause," he said, after a pause, "but one doesn't care to see one's kinsman in distress. Strause says he will be obliged to leave the regiment if I don't help him."
"To the extent of five thousand pounds?" remarked Keith.
Aylmer was silent.
"I tell you what it is," remarked the older man suddenly. "You leave me to see Strause over this matter."
"But he hates you, Keith," was Aylmer's naïve reply.