"Certainly, if you had it, but you haven't. And you have nothing tangible to show that you ever will have, or any part of it."
"There are those Hardwood Company shares--ten thousand of them."
"You tell me that you are in an ugly temper, and I can perceive for myself that you are not so calm as I should wish, otherwise I should ask for permission to be quite frank with you."
"You had better be frank! Never you mind about my temper; it won't be improved by your shuffling. Out with what you've got to say!"
"Remember, it will only be said at your express invitation."
"Do you hear? Out with it!"
"Then briefly and plainly it's this: If you were anybody else it's possible that money--some money--might be got on your expectation of the Hardwood Company's shares, but, as things are, it's out of the question."
"Why? What's the matter with my being me?"
"A good deal, as you're as well aware as I am. In a matter of this sort it's character which tells, and, unfortunately--I say it with deep sorrow!--your character's against you."
"What's my character got to do with a thing of this kind?"