“By Jove! that was good of him.”
“It was just like him, Chick. He has saved this man for love of that girl, and it cost him ninety thousand dollars to do it, with never a possibility that his magnanimity would be discovered, or that a word of gratitude would ever be given him. Chick, such a man as that is worthy of any girl, whether she’s a clergyman’s daughter or not.”
“And I hope he gets her,” cried Chick bluntly.
“We shall see,” smiled Nick significantly. “I reckon I yet may have a finger in this pie.”
“I now see why you did not wish to arrest Kendall.”
“Surely not, Chick. I am convinced that Kendall will use that money to adjust his affairs at the bank. Feeling sure of that, I determined not to pervert Flood’s lofty design, on which he had plainly set his heart.”
“His cuekeeper must have known what came off?”
“The humpback?”
“Yes.”
“That is true,” admitted Nick, “but Flood evidently knows that he can trust him to say nothing about it. Furthermore, Chick, the cuekeeper is probably entirely ignorant of Flood’s motive.”