Then suddenly a light flashed across his face.
“By heaven,” he muttered, “I understand it now!—They saw it—that look on his face!—By Jove!—But no; she never saw her!—She must have heard something about him then!—They didn't treat you well, I believe!” he said: “—turned you away at a moment's notice!—I hope they took that into consideration when they paid you?”
“I made no complaint, sir. I never asked why I was dismissed!”
“But they made it up to you—didn't they?”
“I don't submit to ill usage, sir.” “That's right! I'm glad you made them pay for it!”
“To take money for ill usage is to submit to it, it seems to me!” said Richard.
“By Jove, there are not many would call money ill usage!—Well, it wasn't right, and I'll have nothing to do with it!—Here,” he went on, wheeling round to the table, and drawing his cheque-book toward him, “I will give you another cheque for yourself.”
“I beg your pardon, sir,” said Richard, “but I can take nothing for myself! Don't you see, sir?—As soon as I was gone, you would think I had after all come for my own sake!”
“I won't, I promise you. I think you a very honest fellow!”
“Then, sir, please continue to think me so, and don't offer me money!”