"You can meet a business difficulty face to face; but you shrink from difficulties or unpleasantnesses which bring the names of those you love and honour into the public mouth."
It was plain to Aldridge Grey was weighing his words with the nicest care. The manager considered it better to preserve his silence still.
"I am going now," pursued Grey, "to place myself upon your honour——"
"I am sure you may do that," interrupted Aldridge with respectful emphasis. The respect in the emphasis was not that of employed to employer, but of sympathiser for a fellow-man, an esteemed fellow-man in trouble.
Something in Aldridge's tone struck Grey. He stood up, stretched out his hand to Aldridge, took the manager's hand in his, and said impressively: "Aldridge, I am sure of that."
"Thank you. Now you may go on. I will not interrupt again."
"You know my mother has advertised her house and furniture for sale?"
"Yes."
"And that she is about to sell her annuity."
"So I have heard."