"
"He is making money, I believe."
"Coining it. The fact is, Edward, you never should have left him. Had
you kept that situation, you would have been the partner now. And, by
the way, there was rather a strange story afloat at the time you took
it into your head to leave Jasper."
"Ah! what was it?"
"It is said that you thought him a little too close in his dealings,
and left him on that account. I hadn't given you credit for quite so
tender a conscience. How was it, Edward?"
"I didn't like his modes of doing business, and, therefore, left him.
So far you heard truly."
"But what had you to do with _his_ modes of doing business?"
"A great deal. As one of his employees, I was expected to carry out
his views."
"And not being willing to do that, you left his service."
"That is the simple story."
"Excuse me, Edward, but I can't help calling you a great fool. Just
see how you have stood in your own light. But for this extra bit of
virtue, for which no one thinks a whit the better of you, you might
this day have been on the road to fortune, instead of Parker."
"I would rather be in my own position than in his," replied Claire
firmly.
"You would!" His companion evinced surprise. "He is in the sure road
to wealth."
"But not, I fear, in the way to happiness.
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