"What is it, then?"
"I am in Miss Carr's confidence," I said; "and I do not feel at liberty
to speak about the matter till after you have seen her."
"Let me see," said the old man; "she's very pretty, isn't she?"
"Beautiful?" I exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Humph! Then I don't think I shall go, Grace."
"Not go? Why not?"
"These handsome women can wheedle a man out of anything. I've lost five
hundred over Lister, and I don't want to be wheedled out of any more."
"You needn't be afraid, Mr Jabez," I said, laughing.
"Think not?"
"I'm sure not. Miss Carr wants to advance some money to help some one."
"Well, then, let her do it."
"She cannot well do it herself, and she asked me if I knew anyone, and I
named you."
"Hang your impudence, then," he said, taking snuff fiercely. "You know
I was fool enough to advance money to Lister, so you recommend me as an
easy one to do it again."
"No, no, Mr Jabez; you don't understand me," I said, laughing. "Miss
Carr wishes to find the money, but she wants it to seem as if it came
through you."
"Oh!"
Here he refreshed himself with his snuff, looking at me suspiciously the
while.
"Look here, young Grace," he said; "I'm not fond of doing things in the
dark; so, as we are old friends, suppose you make a clean breast of what
all this means. You know, I suppose?"
"Yes, I know everything," I replied.
"Well, then, out with it."
"That I cannot do without being guilty of a breach of confidence, Mr
Rowle," I replied. "If you will come up to Miss Carr's to-morrow
evening at half-past six, you may be sure of a warm welcome, and I shall
be there to meet you."
"Phee-ew!" he whistled, "how fine we have got to be, Grace. Do we dine
late every day, sir?"
"No; nonsense," I said, laughing. "Miss Carr is very kind to me,
though: and she wished me to be there to meet you."
"Well, but, Grace, you know," said the old man, "I'm such a queer, rough
sort of a fellow. I'm not used to that sort of thing. I've read about
it often enough; but I suppose--oh, you know, I couldn't come?"
"I shall tell Miss Carr you will," I said, rising; and after a few more
words, the old man promised, and I went away.