"Well, I've been hard up. The other day I needed money badly. I had to have money or I'd have failed. I have a wife and family to think of, Huber. I tried everywhere to raise the wind, and there was only one place where I could raise it."
"You mean—" Luke wet his lips. "You mean that crowd?"
"Yes."
"It came from him?"
"It came direct from L. Bergen Rivington. But, of course, it really came from him."
Luke put out his hand. Nelson wrung it.
"I wasn't bought, Huber," he said. "You don't think that?"
"I know," said Luke kindly.
"I wish I'd told you sooner, Huber. I didn't expect you'd go so far."
"I'd have gone just as far, Nelson. I'm sorry."