a creature. He eyed his partner with a contempt which he took no
pains to conceal. This, then, was the smart young fellow recommended
to him on all sides, a few years ago, as one of the shrewdest young
men in his own particular department, a person bound to succeed, a
money-maker if ever there was one! Laverick thought of him as he
appeared at the office day by day, glossy and immaculately dressed,
with a flower in his buttonhole, boots that were a trifle too shiny,
hat and coat, gloves and manner, all imitation but all very near the
real thing. What a collapse!

"You're going to stay and see it through?" he whined across the table.

"Certainly," Laverick answered.

The young man buried his face in his hands.

"I can't! I can't!" he moaned. "I couldn't bear seeing all the
fellows, hearing them whisper things - oh, Lord! Oh, Lord! . . .
Laverick, we've a few hundreds left. Give me something and let me
out of it. You're a stronger sort of man than I am. You can face
it, - I can't! Give me enough to get abroad with, and if ever I
do any good I'll remember it, I will indeed."

Laverick was silent for a moment. His companion watched his face
eagerly. After all, why not let him go? He was no help, no comfort.
The very sight of him was contemptible.

"I have paid no money into the bank for several days," Laverick said
slowly. "When they refused to help us, it was, of course, obvious
that they guessed how things were."