"He spent his last cent making Mary comfortable, John. She told me so herself."
"I will never give that—creature one penny of my clean money."
Dr. Lavendar said nothing.
The older man bent forward, shivering, and stirred the fire. The coal broke into sputtering fragments and the flames roared up into the soot. "Alex would never listen to giving him any money."
"Don't ask him to listen to it. Haven't you got your own check-book?"
"Let him rot. That's what Alex says."
"I don't believe it's what you say, John, because he was good to Mary;—and you were not."
Mr. Gordon groaned.
"Well, I won't give him anything; I'll lend it, possibly."
Dr. Lavendar frowned and got up.