"You should have thought of all this earlier."
"I know I should. I am simply amazed at myself. But I was so certain of success that I refused to look at failure, or the possible consequences of failure."
"Exactly. But that is not my fault. I am sorry for you. More sorry than I can express. But I am powerless to help you."
"And you are not concerned at my cheating the insurance company?"
"Not in the least. I am only concerned that you do not cheat me."
"But suppose I paid you interest on the seven hundred pounds for a year or two?"
"It is not the interest I want, but the principal, which I must have by the first of January next, or I'm up a tree."
"But could you not borrow the amount from some other client for awhile?"
"Where am I to get security? Why don't you ask me to make you a free gift of the amount in question?"
"I don't want any free gift. At the same time, I don't want to sacrifice my life if there is any chance of saving it."