“When will that be?” he continued, quietly, not noticing my manner.
“I really can’t say,” I replied, not liking to be thus questioned.
“Do you know how much you owe?” he asked.
“Really, Jack, you take a great interest in my debts!”
“I do,” he replied, solemnly, and with the air of a fellow who had made up his mind to go through with an unpleasant duty.
“Well,” I said, warming up rather, “I fancy I can look after them quite as well by myself.”
“I’m afraid I am offending you,” said Jack, looking straight at me, “but I don’t think you do look after them properly.”
“What do you mean?” I demanded.
“I mean,” said Jack, with his arm still in mine, “that you are head over ears in debt, and that, instead of paying off, you are spending your money in other ways. And I don’t think it’s right, Fred.”
“Upon my word, Jack,” I said, “it’s quite new for you to lecture me like this, and I don’t like it. What business is it of yours, I should like to know?”