“Er—director in the Truro Road, hain't you, Mr. Worthington?” asked Jethro, without looking at him.
“Yes.”
“Er—principal stockholder—ain't you?”
“Yes—but that is neither here nor there, sir.”
“Road don't pay—r-road don't pay, does it?”
“It certainly does not.”
“W-would pay if it went to Brampton and Harwich?”
“Mr. Bass, the company consider that they are pledged to the people of this section to get the road through. I am not prepared to say whether the road would pay, but it is quite likely that it would not.”
“Ch-charitable organization?” said Jethro, from the depths of his chair.
“The pioneers in such matters take enormous risks for the benefit of the community, sir. We believe that we are entitled to a franchise, and in my opinion the General Court are behaving disgracefully in refusing us one. I will not say all I think about that affair, Mr. Bass. I am convinced that influences are at work—” He broke off with a catch in his throat.