But the two young lords would not agree to this. 'If you must go this very minute I'll meet you at the train with the money,' said Nidderdale. Fisker begged that no such trouble should be taken. Of course he would wait ten minutes if they wished. But the affair was one of no consequence. Wasn't the post running every day? Then Herr Vossner came from his bed, suddenly arrayed in a dressing-gown, and there was a conference in a corner between him, the two lords, and Mr Grendall. In a very few minutes Herr Vossner wrote a cheque for the amount due by the lords, but he was afraid that he had not money at his banker's sufficient for the greater claim. It was well understood that Herr Vossner would not advance money to Mr Grendall unless others would pledge themselves for the amount.
'I suppose I'd better send you a bill over to America,' said Miles Grendall, who had taken no part in the matter as long as he was in the same boat with the lords.
'Just so. My partner, Montague, will tell you the address.' Then bustling off, taking an affectionate adieu of Paul, shaking hands with them all round, and looking as though he cared nothing for the money, he took his leave. 'One cheer for the South Central Pacific and Mexican Railway,' he, said as he went out of the room. Not one there had liked Fisker. His manners were not as their manners; his waistcoat not as their waistcoats. He smoked his cigar after a fashion different from theirs, and spat upon the carpet. He said 'my lord' too often, and grated their prejudices equally whether he treated them with familiarity or deference. But he had behaved well about the money, and they felt that they were behaving badly. Sir Felix was the immediate offender, as he should have understood that he was not entitled to pay a stranger with documents which, by tacit contract, were held to be good among themselves. But there was no use now in going back to that. Something must be done.
'Vossner must get the money,' said Nidderdale. 'Let's have him up again.'
'I don't think it's my fault,' said Miles. 'Of course no one thought he was to be called upon in this sort of way.'
'Why shouldn't you be called upon?' said Carbury. 'You acknowledge that you owe the money.'
'I think Carbury ought to have paid it,' said Grasslough.
'Grassy, my boy,' said the baronet, 'your attempts at thinking are never worth much. Why was I to suppose that a stranger would be playing among us? Had you a lot of ready money with you to pay if you had lost it? I don't always walk about with six hundred pounds in my pocket;--nor do you!'