He felt
the less compunction in so doing, from the fact that Grind, angry with
him for having been the agent of Jasper's final destruction, which
involved him in a severe loss, had expressed himself in no measured
terms--had, in fact, lashed him with most bitter and opprobrious
words.
Several times, during the progress of events briefly stated in the
concluding portions of the last chapter, Martin had, in his frequent
visits to the lawyer, hinted, more or less remotely, at his great need
of money. But to these intimations, Grind never gave the slightest
response. At last the man said boldly--
"Mr. Grind, you must help me to a little money." This was directly
after the failure of Jasper.
"I cannot do it," was the unequivocal reply. "You have, by your
miserable vindictiveness, ruined Jasper, after having subsisted on
him for years--base return for all you owe him--and, in doing so, half
destroyed me. You have killed the goose that laid the golden egg, and
there is no one but yourself to thank for this folly."
"You must help me, Mr. Grind," said Martin, his brows knitting,
and the muscles of his lips growing rigid. "You had a hand in that
business as well as Jasper; you took a big slice, if he did keep
the major part of the loaf; and so I have a right to ask some slight
return for important service rendered.
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