Am I right ?" Gadgem lowered his head and for a moment studied the carpet.

His activities, now that the cat was out of the bag, were fair subjects for discussion, but not his charities.
"I prefer not to answer, sir, and--" the last words died in his throat.
"But it's true, isn't it ?" persisted St.George.He had never once taken his eyes from Gadgem.
"Yes, it's true." St.George turned on his heel, walked to the mantel, stood for an instant gazing into the empty fireplace, and then, with that same straightening of his shoulders and lift of his head which his friends knew so well when he was deeply stirred, confronted the collector again: "Gadgem!" He stopped and caught his breath.

For a moment it seemed as if something in his throat choked his utterance.

"Gadgem--give me your hand! Do you know you are a gentleman and a thoroughbred! No--don't speak--don't explain.

We understand each other.