'
'By Jove!' said Wentworth, 'I believe I shall try it. I want to let him
know, anyhow, what sort of man his nephew is. I'll go and see him.'
'I would,' said the other, turning to his work.
And so George Wentworth, putting the cablegram in his pocket, went to see
old Mr. Longworth in a frame of mind in which no man should see his
fellow-man. He did not wait to be announced, but walked, to the
astonishment of the clerk, straight through into Mr. Longworth's room. He
found the old man seated at his desk.
'Good-day, Mr. Wentworth,' said the financier cordially.
'Good-day,' replied George curtly. 'I have come to read a cable despatch
to you, or to let you read it.'
He threw the paper down before the old gentleman, who adjusted his
spectacles and read it. Then he looked up inquiringly at Wentworth.
'You don't understand it, do you?' said the latter.
'I confess I do not. The Longworth in this telegram does not refer to
me, does it?'
'No, it does not refer to you, but it refers to one of your house. Your
nephew, William Longworth, is a scoundrel!'
'Ah!' said the old man, placing the despatch on the desk again, and
removing his glasses, 'have you come to tell me that?'
'Yes, I have. Did you know it before?'
'No, I did not,' answered the old gentleman, his colour rising; 'and I
do not know it now. I know you say so, and I think very likely you will
be glad to take back what you have said. I will at least give you the
opportunity.
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