Mr. Asherill broke it.
"If not an impertinent question, gentlemen, what have you to do with this?"
"I am his friend," said Mr. Werner, with a hesitation natural, perhaps, to a man who looked so incapable of being a friend to any one.
"And I a creditor," said Mr. Kleinwort, with a fluency which seemed to strike Mr. Asherill, who surveyed them both, and stared at them over and through.
"What does he owe you?" he asked at last, addressing himself to Mr. Kleinwort.
"Fifteen hundred pounds."
"For what?"
"Money advanced."
"Through whom?"
"Through nobody, except me, myself."