All this Mr. Stewart observed and noted.
“That man has (for him) played high,” he thought, “and staked not merely money but hope on the game;” then finding Arthur still resolutely kept silence, he proceeded:
“Mr. Black will altogether make a handsome thing out of this Company.”
“Yes, and he promised to go halves with me!” interrupted Arthur, hoarsely.
“Indeed! and now he would fulfil that promise by showing you what to buy, and then recommending us to purchase from you; a very nice way of doing business for him, doubtless—very nice indeed.”
“I wish to God I had never gone into the Company at all!” broke out the Squire, weakly and passionately; “and I did it on the strength of your name, and the names of men like you.”
“That was foolish,” said Mr. Stewart; “if you had asked me for advice, I should decidedly have recommended you to leave the Protector Flour and Bread Company, Limited, alone.”
“But you expect to make money out of it,” said Arthur, obstinately.
“Yes, but I am also prepared to lose money,” was the reply; “which fact constitutes the difference between us. If a man be, as I have always been, a speculator, he takes the rough with the smooth, the failure with the success. I lay out my plans as well as I can, but I, at the same time, take my chance. Moreover, Mr. Dudley, I can afford to wait for success; you, perhaps, are not quite so fortunately situated.”
“Did you come here to insult me?” asked the Squire.