Randall sat looking at the other as if hypnotized. He forgot to ask questions, forgot almost to breathe. To read of gigantic fortunes, the property of absolute strangers living a thousand or thousands of miles away, is one thing: to have one personally known, an actual acquaintance in possession—it held him speechless, staring. The other’s familiar, tolerant laugh aroused him.
“Don’t, please,” said Roberts. “They’ve been doing that to me wherever I show myself and write my name; that is, when they haven’t been proving relationship.” He laughed again shortly. “It’s wonderful how many relatives I’ve discovered of late and friends I’ve made. Don’t do it, please.” 326
Randall could still color and his face went red.
“I beg your pardon,” he apologized, “I—”
“Nor that either,” swiftly, almost curtly. “Just be yourself, natural. I like you that way.” He looked at the other openly, with frank intentness that heralded the unexpected.
“It’s possible,” he digressed evenly, “that I’ll be here some time, but the chances are I’ll only stay a day or so. After to-night we’ll probably not see much of each other, maybe nothing at all, ever. We’re rather different types and our roads lead differently.” He smiled to dissipate the mystification he saw gathering on the other’s face. “This is a preface. What I’m aiming at directly is to say a thing or two that have been on my mind for some time—in case I don’t have the opportunity again.” Once more the smile,—the same smile that had won the confidence of the other against heavy odds in the beginning of their acquaintance. “Do you mind if I’m a bit—fatherly to you?”
“No.” Swift as thought, as panoramic memory, Harry Randall had remembered everything; and, without shame, his eyes were moist. “I’d like you to be so. I understand.”
Roberts looked away at the red and green wall opposite. 327
“It’s just this, then; and if you wish me to stop say the word; I get reports of various things in various ways. It’s part of my philosophy to know of events in advance if I can. I’ve heard that you are speculating a bit. Is it true?”
Randall started involuntarily; but the other was not looking.