“Ah! your speculation then was a success?” smiling.
“A stupendous one. Wiped out all past debts and have a million ahead. No time to figure it up yet; may be a couple of hundred thousand either way, but that is a matter of small importance.”
Craig never ceases to be amused at the strange idiosyncracies of his queer companion. He realizes by this time—perhaps from the enormous dinner Wycherley is making—that the other has no means, and it is really ridiculous to see a man without a dollar in his pocket declaring so carelessly that a quarter of a million one way or the other is a matter of little importance.
“One thing about this matter gives me pain,” the Canadian says presently.
“You refer to Bob Rocket and his mission?” remarks the actor, still busy with knife and fork.
“Yes. He comes to arrest John Phœnix, whom we know to be the son of Samson Cereal.”
“That is unfortunate, but the young man has embezzled fifty thousand dollars from the mining company, and the outraged law of Colorado must take its course. You wouldn’t think of hindering Rocket in the discharge of his duty, Aleck?”
“Oh, no! far from it. At the same time, I cannot help regretting the circumstance. It will be a blow to Dorothy, who seems to think a good deal of this half brother. They must have met before.”
“Perhaps corresponded. As for myself, I am amazed at the young man’s foolhardiness. Why has he allowed the fatal attraction of the Fair to detain him here when he should be across the lakes in Canada. That’s the trouble with most men—they don’t use common sense under such circumstances.”
“We’ve got more than we want of them over in Canada. If my country should ever become a member of your Union, which, I grant you, is a possible thing, though I’m not one in favor of it, there will be such an exodus of boodle aldermen and other rascals as has never been seen before; and no honest man in the Dominion will shed a tear. Why, some among us favor annexation simply to save Canada from being the dumping ground of your swindlers.”