"I do not believe in disinterested friendships."
"Nor do I; but I intend having a reward."
"From me, I suppose," and Mr. Drayton laughed again.
"From you—and from some one else. If my ideas are correct—you would not grudge me a good percentage, eh?"
"What do you call a good percentage?"
"Well, I want half; I want fifty per cent."
"Fifty per cent.! nonsense, absolute nonsense."
"You have no right to say 'nonsense'; and I think I am wasting my time," (which is also true, it is quite wonderful how I have been able to speak the truth to-day), and Paul Lyons felt a glow of satisfaction at this reflection.
"I don't know what you're driving at;" and Mr. Drayton looked so furiously at him that Paul Lyons thought if he ever favoured Margaret with such a glance it was enough to give her a fit.
"I am driving at nothing," he said, with a very good show of anger. "I don't pretend that I shan't be abominably annoyed if you do not go into this matter, because I see my way to making some money, but it seems to me that you have no papers to show me, and that you do not understand this matter very much; I believe I had better go—time, as far as I am concerned, is too precious to waste."