human
Gentlemen, he says, with a great effort at suavity,
gpt
with a stinging emphasis,
human
Mr. Wilmarth, I offer you twelve thousand dollars for your quarter-share,
gpt
Mr. Grandon, I beg leave to decline it.
human
What will you take to dispose of it?
gpt
It is not for sale.
human
Then you must have faith in the ultimate recovery of the business.
gpt
Not necessarily. If I choose to risk my money it is my own affair. I have no family to impoverish. And all business is a risk, a species of gambling. You stake your money against the demand for a certain line of goods, red, we will say. The ball rises and lo, it is white, but you whistle 'better luck next time.'
human
So you expected to take half the amount of the note out of Mr. Eugene's quarter-share?
gpt
That _is_ a mistake, he admits frankly.
human
No doubt we should have found it out in the course of settlement. I trusted most of this matter to Eugene, and he surely should not have wronged himself. But it is all of no consequence now; as well tear up the memorandum. But, Mr. Grandon, if you are to be your brother's banker, may I trouble you to settle these?