“I know that he is a friend of yours also,” she reminded him.

“On that basis I’ll tell you anything you want to know,” laughed Loring.  “Johnny was doing an excellent business in real estate speculation when this man Collaton came to him with an enormous irrigation scheme.  They formed a partnership.  Collaton went out West to superintend the reclaiming of some thousands of acres of arid land, while Johnny stayed here to sell rose-bordered farms to romantic city home seekers.  Collaton spent money faster than Johnny could get it, and operations had to be discontinued.  Johnny has been paying the debts of the concern ever since.  Every time he thinks he has them cleared off, a new set bobs up; and, since the books and all the papers are lost, he can’t prove or disprove anything.  Johnny can’t even dissolve the partnership so long as there are indefinite outstanding accounts.  Now, Constance, I’m not a good lawyer or I would not, even in strict confidence like this, say the following, to wit and namely:  I think Collaton is a plain ordinary sneak-thief.”

They were both silent for a little time.

“Doesn’t it seem rather strange that the people who hold claims against Mr. Gamble should just happen to attach his bank-account on the very day he was expected to make a deposit, and for the identical amount?” Constance asked in a puzzled way.

Loring gave her a startled glance.

“It does seem strange,” he admitted.

“It would almost seem as if these people had been informed by some one who knew Mr. Gamble’s circumstances quite intimately,” she went on.

“That is a very delicate matter to discuss,” Loring, with professional caution, gravely reminded her, fearing that she might mention Gresham’s name.

“You are quite right,” she agreed.  “What does Mr. Gamble think about it all?”

“Johnny does a lot of thinking and a lot of talking, but you can’t hear what he thinks,” replied Loring with a smile.  “He is outwardly assuming—­and where Collaton is certain to have it repeated to him—­ that Collaton was merely unfortunate; but I believe he is only waiting for a proof—­and then I imagine he will drop on Collaton and whoever is helping him like a ton of pig-iron.”

“I hope he does!” declared Constance with such sudden vindictiveness that Loring laughed.

“You seem to have acquired a violent partisanship,” he charged her with a curious smile.

“Yes, I have,” she admitted with a slight flush.  “I like fair play.  I believe I have a very even temper, but it angers me to see any one so open and manly and generous as Mr. Gamble made a victim of mean trickery.”

“He’s a handsome boy too,” commented Loring, grinning.

“Well, suppose he is,” she petulantly laughed.

“He has a right to be,” granted Loring, looking at her with renewed admiration.  With a slight flush of confusion upon her she was even more charming than he had ever thought her before.  “If I had so tantalizingly pretty a girl so interested in my fortunes I wouldn’t care whether they perfected aeroplanes or not,” he ventured with the freedom of an old friend.