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Chapter 14
”Isaid:“Lupin,youarejoking.”“No,Guv.,it’sthegoodoldtruth;JobCleanandsputmeontoChlorates.”
January21.—IamverymuchconcernedatLupinhavingstartedapony-trap.Isaid:“Lupin,areyoujustifiedinthisoutrageousextravagance?”Lupinreplied:“Well,onemustgettotheCitysomehow.I’veonlyhiredit,andcangiveitupanytimeIlike.”Irepeatedmyquestion:“Areyoujustifiedinthisextravagance?”Hereplied:“Lookhere,Guv.,excusemesayingso,butyou’reabitoutofdate.Itdoesnotpaynowadays,fiddlingaboutoversmallthings.Idon’tmeananythingpersonal,Guv’nor.MybosssaysifItakehistip,andsticktobigthings,Icanmakebigmoney!”IsaidIthoughttheveryideaofspeculationmosthorrifying.Lupinsaid“Itisnotspeculation,it’sadeadcert.”Iadvisedhim,atallevents,nottocontinuetheponyandcart;buthereplied:“Imade£200inoneday;nowsupposeIonlymake£200inamonth,orputitat£100amonth,whichisridiculouslylow—why,thatis£1,250ayear.What’safewpoundsaweekforatrap?”
Ididnotpursuethesubjectfurther,beyondsayingthatIshouldfeelgladwhentheautumncame,andLupinwouldbeofageandresponsibleforhisowndebts.Heanswered:“MydearGuv.,IpromiseyoufaithfullythatIwillneverspeculatewithwhatIhavenotgot.IshallonlygoonJobCleanands’tips,andasheisinthe‘know’itisprettysafesailing.”Ifeltsomewhatrelieved.
