“Won’t you do it, then?” once more urged Wyndham.
“Not likely!” rejoined Silk. “If you want favours you’d better go to your precious friend Riddell; and you can go as soon as you like. I don’t want you here!”
“If you’d only do it,” said Wyndham, “I’d—”
“Do you hear what I say?”
“I’d never ask you for the money you borrowed,” said the boy quickly.
Silk laughed as he turned once more on his victim, and said, “Wouldn’t you really? How awfully considerate! Upon my word, the generosity of some people is quite touching. Let’s see, how much was it?”
“Thirty shillings,” said Wyndham, “and the change out of the post-office order, two pounds.”
“Which makes,” said Silk, putting the figures down on his paper, “three pounds ten, doesn’t it? and you think what you ask is worth three pounds ten, do you?”
“It’s worth far more to me,” said the boy, “because it’s the only thing can save me from being expelled.”
Silk mused a bit over his figures, and then replied, “And what would happen if I didn’t pay you back?”