"Why, to take the game as well as the name," said the other, with a short laugh, and without taking his eyes from Arthur's face.
"True enough," cried Quirk, "you might as well be a thief as to be called one, according to my opinion."
Arthur placed his elbow on the table, and looked into the lamp-blaze thoughtfully, with his head on his hand.
"You are both ready to advise," said he, after a moment's silence, "but I doubt if either of you know what you'd do in my case, after all."
"I'd be avenged," said Clinton, resolutely; "but you are not me, and I don't ask you to do as I would."
"That's just the thing!" cried Quirk; "and if you can hit upon a plan, carry it out; there'll be some satisfaction in that."
"Revenge!" said Arthur, bitterly; "how can I be revenged? It would be a sparrow struggling against a vulture."
"You admit you have been wronged?"
"Most unjustly so."
"And you would be avenged, if you could?"