moments. "It may be three or four days, or it may be more, or it may be less. Look here," he added, "will you let me send for you if I get a clue? I think I shall get one … What a huge balance you must keep."
"If that young scoundrel" began Mr. Brassington again.
"Now, my dear Brassington," said Mr. Kirby soothingly, "my dear Brassington, the man may be as innocent as, well"
"You don't suspect my son, I suppose?" broke in Mr. Brassington fiercely.
Mr. Kirby laughed pleasantly.
"Good Lord, no!" he said. "Don't you see, Brassington, life 's a complicated place. Supposing a man knew that your son owed McAuley this"
"Owed it!" thundered Mr. Brassington. "And how in the name of justice can this accursed gambling"
"Now! Now! Now!" said Mr. Kirby. "We won't go into that! The point is that supposing someone did know that this chap McAuley, at any rate, thought it was owed him?"
"He couldn't have thought so," said Mr. Brassington stubbornly.
