One holiday, about four months after the commencement of Rodney"s engagement, he was walking in the Park when he fell in with Jasper.
Jasper"s attention was at once drawn to the little boy, whose dress and general appearance indicated that he belonged to a wealthy family. This excited Jasper"s curiosity.
"How are you, Rodney?" said Jasper adroitly. "It is a good while since I met you."
"Yes."
"Who is the little boy with you?"
"His name is Arthur Sargent."
Rodney gave this information unwillingly, for he saw that his secret was likely to be discovered.
"How do you do, Arthur?" asked Jasper, with unwonted affability, for he did not care for children.
"Pretty well," answered Arthur politely.
"Have you known Rodney long?"
"Why, he is my teacher," answered Arthur in some surprise.
Jasper"s eyes gleamed with sudden intelligence. So this was Rodney"s secret, and this was the position for which he was so well paid.
Rodney bit his lip in vexation, but made no remark.
"Does he ever punish you for not getting your lessons?" asked Jasper without much tact.
"Of course not," answered Arthur indignantly.
"Arthur always does get his lessons," said Rodney. "I suppose you have a holiday from work today, Jasper."
"Yes; I am glad to get away now and then."
"I must bid you good morning now."
"Won"t you let me call on you? Where do you live, Arthur?"
The boy gave the number of his house.
Jasper asked Arthur, thinking rightly that he would be more likely to get an answer from him than from Rodney. He walked away triumphantly, feeling that he had made a discovery that might prove of advantage to him.
"Is that a friend of yours, Rodney?" asked little Arthur.
"I have known him for some time."
"I don"t like him very much."
"Why?" asked Rodney with some curiosity.
"I don"t know," answered the little boy slowly. "I can"t like everybody."
"Quite true, Arthur. Jasper is not a special friend of mine, and I am not particular about your liking him. I hope you like me."
"You know I do, Rodney," and he gave Rodney"s hand an a.s.suring pressure.
Ten minutes after he left Rodney, Jasper fell in with Carton. The intimacy between them had perceptibly fallen off. It had grown out of business considerations.
Now that it was no longer safe to abstract articles from the store, Jasper felt that he had no more use for his late confederate. When they met he treated him with marked coldness.
On this particular day Carton was looking quite shabby. In fact, his best suit was in p.a.w.n, and he had fallen back on one half worn and soiled.
"h.e.l.lo!" exclaimed Jasper, and was about to pa.s.s on with a cool nod.
"Stop!" said Philip, looking offended.
"I am in a hurry," returned Jasper. "I can"t stop today."
"You are in a hurry, and on a holiday?"
"Yes; I am to meet a friend near the lake."
"I"ll go along with you."
Jasper had to submit though with an ill grace.
"Wouldn"t another day do?"
"No; the fact is, Jasper, I am in trouble,"
"You usually are," sneered Jasper.
"That is so. I have been out of luck lately."
"I am sorry, but I can"t help it as I see."
"How much money do you think I have in my pocket?"
"I don"t know, I am sure. I am not good at guessing conundrums."
"Just ten cents."
"That isn"t much," said Jasper, indifferently.
"Let me have a dollar, thats a good fellow!"
"You seem to think I am made of money," said Jasper sharply. "I haven"t got much more myself."
"Then you might have. You get a good salary."