Richard did not tell Mr.Fopling that his sacred name was already in the harness of the affair.
The benumbed Mr.Fopling, by listening attentively, succeeded in getting an impression that Richard through lucky dexterity and sleight had obtained some strange hold in stocks on Mr.Harley, and now in a foolish leniency was about to let him go.

This excited Mr.Fopling hugely; he put in a most vigorous protest.
"Weally, Stawms," he squeaked, "if you've twapped the old curmudgeon you must stwip him for his last dime, don't y' know! I wemembah a song my governor used to sing; he said it was his motto.

The song wan like this: "'When you catch a black cat, skin it, skin it! When you catch a black cat, skin it to the tail!' "Yes, Stawms, use my name as fweely as you please; but I pwotest against letting up on this old cweature Harley." "But, my dear boy," observed Richard, "you must consider! Mr.Harley is to be my father-in-law, he's Dorothy's father." Mr.Fopling declined to consider what he called a "technicality." Mr.
Harley must be squeezed.
"Weally, Stawms," said Mr.Fopling, "it's the wules of the game, don't y' know." After no little argument, Mr.Fopling yielded his point.

Mr.Fopling, however, bethought him of troubles of his own, and made condition that Richard stand his friend with Bess as against his enemy, Ajax.
"Bees always sides with Ajax," explained Mr.Fopling plaintively, "and it ain't wight!" Richard gave Mr.Fopling a fraternal grip with his mighty hand.

He would be to Mr.Fopling as was Jonathan to David.