Mr. Boggs remarked, in response to these astonishing suggestions, that he could tell much better what his friend was about if he would drop metaphor.
Mr. Weil hesitated. He saw no way but to trust this man with the facts, and yet he dreaded the possibility that he might prove obstinate.
"By-the-way," he said, as if to change the subject temporarily, "have you been out to see Fern lately?"
Mr. Boggs shook his head.
"You ought to," said Weil. "He's improved a thousand per cent. in the last few weeks. His financial luck has made a new man of him."
"I'm glad of that," responded the other. "And I'm glad too that I've got my money out of his firm, for I had a strong suspicion at one time that he was running pretty close to the wall."
Mr. Weil nodded to show that he believed this statement, and then grew sober.
"Sometimes, when men get into a tight place financially," he said, "they do queer things. Supposing I should tell you that Mr. Fern had endorsed checks and notes in a way he was not authorized to do?"
The stout man opened his eyes wider.
"That would be a piece of news," he answered. "But, if he did, he's made it all right by this time, of course, and nobody is the loser."