Suddenly a thought came which caused me to exult exceedingly.
"Ten thousand pounds, my dear Latimer," said I, "would save you from being hammered on the Stock Exchange and from seeking a suicide's grave.
It would also enable you to maintain Lucy and the kids in your luxurious house at Hampstead, and to take them as usual to Dieppe next summer.

Am I not right ?" He begged me not to make a jest of his miseries.

It was like asking a starving beggar whether a dinner at the Carlton wouldn't set him up again.
"Would ten thousand set you up ?" I persisted.
"Yes.

But I might as well try to raise ten million." "Not so," I cried, slapping him on the shoulder.

"I myself will lend you the money." He leaped to his feet and stared at me wildly in the face.