“I did not ask him,” replied the other.
“You didn't ask him!” exclaimed the boy in dismay. “You didn't even care that much?”
Again there was a pause. “I asked Mr. Wygant,” said Samuel in a low voice. “And he confessed that he was guilty.”
“What!” cried the other.
“He confessed it—his whole conversation was a confession of it. He said everybody did those things, because that was the way to make money, and everybody wanted to make money. He called it competition. And then I asked him why he came to the church of Jesus, and he ordered me out of his house.”
Dr. Vince was listening with knitted brows. “And what do you propose to do now,” he asked.
“I don't know, sir. I suppose I shall have to expose him.”
“Samuel,” exclaimed the clergyman, “in all this wild behavior of yours, does it never occur to you that you owe some gratitude to me?”
“Oh, doctor!” cried the boy, clasping his hands in agony. “Don't say anything like that to me!”
“I do say it!” persisted the other. “I saved you and helped you; and now you are causing me most terrible suffering!”