He found Blinky nosing round the room, quite alone. Betty had disappeared, and the old scoundrel was having quite an enjoyable time poking into matters that did not concern him and disapproving of them on general principles. So far as the improvements concerned old Sam Graham's fortunes, Blinky would concede no health in them. But with regard to Duncan there was another story to tell: Duncan apparently controlled money, to some vague extent.
"You're Mr. Duncan, ain't you?" he asked with his leer, moving down to meet Nat.
"Yes, sir. Mr. Lockwood, I believe?"
"That's me." Blinky clutched his hand in a genial claw. "I'm glad to meet you."
"Thank you," said Duncan. "Something I can do for you, sir?"
"Wal, Pete Willin' was tellin' me you'd just took up this note of Graham's?"
"Not exactly; the firm took it up."
Blinky winked savagely at this. "The firm? What firm?"
"Graham and Duncan, sir. I've been taken into partnership."
"Have, eh?" Blinky grunted mysteriously and fished in his pocket for some bills and silver. "Wal, here's some change comin' to the firm, then; and here," he added, producing the document in question, "is Sam's note."