"You know that it ranks pretty high, then, I presume?"
"I understand that such is the case."
"Then would you mind doing me the favour of writing to Mr. Henry Kellogg, the junior partner, and asking him about me?"
The colonel stiffened. "May I ask why I should do anything so uncalled-for?"
"Because it isn't uncalled-for, sir. I mean, you won't think so after I've explained."
Bohun inclined his head, searching Nat's face with his keen, bright eyes.
"You see, sir, it's this way: I want you to entrust me with a considerable sum of money, and naturally you wouldn't do that without knowing something about me."
"I incline very much to doubt that I should do it in any event, Mr. Duncan."
"Oh, don't say that. You don't know the circumstances, as yet." Nat jerked his head earnestly at the colonel. "You see, you're said to be one of the richest men in town, and I'm certainly one of the poorest, so of course I turn to you in a case like this."
"In a case like what, Mr. Duncan?" Something in the young man's manner seemed to tickle the colonel; Duncan could have sworn that the eyes were twinkling beneath the savagely knitted brows.