Bojo gulped down something that was in his throat, steadying himself against the awful truth that meant ruin and dishonor to him. "Mr. Drake--tell me what I owe you? I want to know what I owe you," he said desperately. "Owe? Nothing." "But the pool?" "Well, what about the pool?" said Drake, eyeing him closely. "The pool to sell Pittsburgh & New Orleans." "Who said anything about selling!" said Drake sharply. "The pool's all right." He looked at him a long moment, and the boyish triumph, suppressed too long, broke out with the memory of Fontaine's visit. "I bought control of Pittsburgh & New Orleans at eleven o'clock this morning and sold it ten minutes ago, for what I paid for it, plus--plus a little profit of ten million dollars." He paused long enough to let this sink into the consciousness of the reeling young man and added, smiling: "On a pro rata basis, Tom, your fifty thousand stands you in just a quarter of a million. I congratulate you." CHAPTER XV SUDDEN WEALTH "Your fifty thousand stands you in just a quarter of a million." The words came to him faintly as though shouted from an incredible distance. The shock was too acute for his nerves. He sought to mumble over the fantastic news and sank into a chair, sick with giddiness. The next thing he knew clearly was Drake's powerful arm about him and a glass forced to his lips. "Here, get this down. Then steady up. Good luck doesn't kill." "I thought they'd caught us--thought I was cleaned out," he said incoherently. "You did, eh?" said Drake, laughing. "You haven't much faith in the old man." Bojo steadied himself, standing alone. The room seemed to race about him and in his ears were strange unfixed sounds. One thought rapped upon his brain--he was not disgraced, not dishonored; no one would ever know--Drake would never need to know; that is if he were careful, if he could somehow dissimulate before that penetrating glance. "I thought we were to sell Pittsburgh & New Orleans," he said vacantly, leaning against the mantelpiece. "So did a good many others," said Drake shrewdly. "Sit down, till I tell you about it. Head clearin' up?" "It's rather a shock," said Bojo, trying to smile. "I'm sorry to be such a baby." "I warned you not to jump to conclusions or try any flyers," said Drake, watching him. "Of course you did?" Bojo nodded, his glance on the floor.