"Can what be done?"
"Could I get rid of that Gawthrop for a month or two?"
"I shouldn't be surprised, if you put up the dollars."
"Will you help me?"
"And get myself—disliked?"
He was going to say—"get myself in the penitentiary," but on reflection he did not desire to frighten Hunt. After all, the affair would cause so much laughter that legal proceedings were not likely to rise out of it.
"I don't want you to show. Only give me a pointer. Could you bring this Smith to me?"
Gardiner stabbed his desk with a pen-knife, and considered the matter for a moment.
"Look here," he said, "I want to deal as squarely as I can with you. I don't want either you or Gawthrop to marry this particular lady."
Hunt stared at him.