“Are you afraid of me?” he rejoined. “Or do you fear my father would be?”
“I dare say they would take my security,” was Hamish’s reply. “I will answer for you to any amount. That is,” and again came his smile, “to any amount they may deem me good for. If they don’t like mine, I can offer my father’s. Will that do, Arthur?”
“Thank you; that is all I want.”
“Don’t go to Dove and Dove’s, old boy,” Hamish said again, as Arthur was leaving the room. “Wait patiently for something better to turn up. There’s no such great hurry. I wish there was room for you to come here!”
“It is only a temporary thing; it is not for long,” replied Arthur; and he went out.
On going back to Dove and Dove’s, the first person he saw, upon opening the door of the clerks’ room, was Mr. Alfred Dove. He appeared to be in a passion over something that had gone wrong, and was talking fast and furiously.
“What do you want?” he asked, wheeling round upon Arthur. Arthur replied by intimating that he would be glad to speak with him.
“Can’t you speak, then?” returned Mr. Alfred Dove. “I am not deaf.”
Thus met, Arthur did not repeat his wish for privacy. He intimated his business, uncertain whether Mr. Alfred Dove had heard of it or not; and stated that the security could be given.
“I don’t know what you mean about ‘security,’” was Mr. Alfred Dove’s rejoinder. “What security?”