Mr. Bingle sighed. "I am sure you will not take advantage of me, Mr.
Flanders. I have made a similar statement to every newspaper man who
has interviewed me, and every one of them has promised not to use it
in his paper. So far not one of them has violated his promise. I am
sure, sir, that you are no less honourable than the rest of the boys."

"I have given no promise, sir."

"Nevertheless I shall trust you not to use the statement, Mr.
Flanders. And now, let us get back to the important part of the
interview."

Flanders stared hard for a few seconds, unable to comprehend the
serene faith that this little but exceedingly important man reposed in
his fellow-man. He appeared to take it for granted that this startling
piece of confidence would not be betrayed, no matter to whom it was
extended. There was something actually pathetic in his guilelessness.
Mr. Richard Flanders admittedly was staggered, and yet somewhere down
in his soul he knew there was a spark of fairness that would become a
stupendous obstacle in the path of his news-getting avarice. Of
course, he was no less honourable than the rest of the boys!

"You would be more generous toward your cousins, I fear, than they
could be toward you," said the reporter, twisting his pencil
nervously. After all, it WOULD create a sensation, this remarkable
statement of Mr. Bingle.

"Oh, they would cheerfully see me rot in the poorhouse," assented Mr.
Bingle composedly. "I am not deceiving myself in regard to Geoffrey