They think they might get part of it back by attacking the promoters, and I'm told that my letter would help them materially." "Do you want to help them ?" "In a way, it's natural," said Bland with signs of warmth.

"I don't see why those fellows should be allowed to get off after tricking people out of the money they've painfully earned." "How much money have you ever earned ?" Bland laughed.
"You have me there; I haven't been able to buy shares out of my pay.
But I made a pot by taking long chances when I backed an outside horse.
It comes to much the same thing." "I don't think it does," said Sylvia, with a smile.

"But it strikes me that your explanation isn't quite complete." "I went to West, instead of to another lawyer, because I thought he would be acquainted with Lansing's present position; but, while he agreed that the letter might be valuable to the objectors, he couldn't help me.

The end of it is that I don't want to do anything that might hurt Lansing." Sylvia reflected.

She hardly thought his loss would seriously embarrass Bland; she owed Herbert something and might need his aid, and she did not wish any discredit to be cast upon a connection of hers.
"Well," she said, "I believe Herbert is still to some extent connected with the company; he can hardly have withdrawn altogether.