 presume?«
    »Sir,« said Mr. Vholes, »to be honest with you (honesty being my golden
rule, whether I gain by it or lose, and I find that I generally lose), money is
the word. Now, sir, upon the chances of Mr. C.'s game I express to you no
opinion, no opinion. It might be highly impolitic in Mr. C., after playing so
long and so high, to leave off; it might be the reverse, I say nothing. No,
sir,« said Mr. Vholes, bringing his hand flat down upon his desk, in a positive
manner, »nothing.«
    »You seem to forget,« returned Mr. Woodcourt, »that I ask you to say
nothing, and have no interest in anything you say.«
    »Pardon me, sir« retorted Mr. Vholes, »you do yourself an injustice. No,
sir! Pardon me! You shall not - shall not in my office, if I know it - do
yourself an injustice. You are interested in anything, and in everything, that
relates to your friend. I know human nature much better, sir, than to admit for
an instant that a gentleman of your appearance is not interested in whatever
concerns his friend.«
    »Well,« replied Mr. Woodcourt, »that may be. I am particularly interested in
his address.«
    (»The number, sir,«) said Mr. Vholes, parenthetically, (»I believe I have
already mentioned.) If Mr. C. is to continue to play for this considerable
stake, sir, he must have funds. Understand me! There are funds in hand at
present. I ask for nothing; there are funds in hand. But, for the onward play,
more funds must be provided; unless Mr. C. is to throw away what he has already
ventured - which is wholly and solely a point for his consideration. This, sir,
I take the opportunity of stating openly to you, as the friend of Mr. C. Without
funds, I shall always be happy to appear and act for Mr. C., to the extent of
all such costs as are safe to be allowed out of the estate: not beyond that. I
could not go beyond that, sir, without wronging some one. I must either wrong my
three dear girls; or my venerable father, who is entirely dependent on me - in
the Vale of Taunton; or some one. Whereas, sir, my
