Briefly Mr. Daney outlined The Laird's expressed course of action with regard to his son.
"He means it," Donald assured the general manager. "He never bluffs. He gave me plenty of warning and his decision has not been arrived at in a hurry. He's through with me."
"I fear he is, my boy. Er-ah-ahem! Harumph-h-h! Do you remember those bonds you sent me from New York once—the proceeds of your deal in that Wiskah river cedar?"
"Yes."
"Your father desires that you accept the entire two hundred thousand dollars worth and accrued interest."
"Why?"
"Well, I suppose he thinks they'll come in handy when you leave Port Agnew."
"Well, I'm not going to leave Port Agnew, Andrew."
"Your father instructed me to say to you that he would take it kindly of you to do so—for obvious reasons."
"I appreciate his point of view, but since he has kicked me out he has no claim on my sympathies—at least not to the extent of forcing his point of view and causing me to abandon my own. Please say to my father that since I cannot have his forgiveness I do not want his bonds or his money. Tell him also, please, that I'm not going to leave Port Agnew, because that would predicate a sense of guilt on my part and lend some support to the popular assumption that my wife is not a virtuous woman. I could not possibly oblige my father on this point because to do so would be a violent discourtesy to my wife. I am not ashamed of her, you know."