'You are right,' said George. 'Of course, there is just as much possibility of my reaching the moon as getting that sum of money on short notice.' 'Yes, or on long notice either, I imagine. I know plenty of men who have the money, but I wouldn't undertake to ask them for it, and I don't believe you would. Still there is nothing like trying. He who tries may succeed, but no one can succeed who doesn't try. Why not go to old Longworth? He could let you have the money in a moment if he wanted to do so. He knows you. What's your security? What are you going to do with it--that eternal mine of yours?' 'Yes, that "eternal mine"; I want it to _be_ mine. That is why I need the twenty thousand pounds.' 'Well, George, I don't see much hope for you. You never spoke to old Longworth about it, did you? He wasn't one of the men you intended to get into this company?' 'No, he was not. I wish he had been. He would have treated us better than his rascally nephew has done.' 'Ah, that immaculate young man has been playing you tricks, has he?' 'He has played me one trick, which is enough.' 'Well, why don't you go and see the old man, and lay the case before him? He treats that nephew as if he were his son. Now, a man will do a great deal for his son, and perhaps old Longworth might do something for his nephew.' 'Yes; but I should have to explain to him that his nephew is a scoundrel.' 'Very well; that is just the kind of explanation to bring the twenty thousand pounds. If his nephew really is a scoundrel, and you can prove it, you could not want a better lever than that on the old man's money-bags.' '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?'