“George nearly cries.  I believe he did cry at odd times.  This went on for weeks.  He couldn’t quarrel with Cloete.  Couldn’t pay off his few hundreds; and besides, he was used to have him about.  Weak fellow, George.  Cloete generous, too. . .  Don’t think of my little pile, says he.  Of course it’s gone when we have to shut up.  But I don’t care, he says. . .  And then there was George’s new wife.  When Cloete dines there, the beggar puts on a dress suit; little woman liked it; . . .  Mr. Cloete, my husband’s partner; such a clever man, man of the world, so amusing! . . .  When he dines there and they are alone:  Oh, Mr. Cloete, I wish George would do something to improve our prospects.  Our position is really so mediocre. . .  And Cloete smiles, but isn’t surprised, because he had put all these notions himself into her empty head. . .  What your husband wants is enterprise, a little audacity.  You can encourage him best, Mrs. Dunbar. . .  She was a silly, extravagant little fool.  Had made George take a house in Norwood.  Live up to a lot of people better off than themselves.  I saw her once; silk dress, pretty boots, all feathers and scent, pink face.  More like the Promenade at the Alhambra than a decent home, it looked to me.  But some women do get a devil of a hold on a man.”

“Yes, some do,” I assented.  “Even when the man is the husband.”

“My missis,” he addressed me unexpectedly, in a solemn, surprisingly hollow tone, “could wind me round her little finger.  I didn’t find it out till she was gone.  Aye.  But she was a woman of sense, while that piece of goods ought to have been walking the streets, and that’s all I can say. . .  You must make her up out of your head.  You will know the sort.”

“Leave all that to me,” I said.

“H’m!” he grunted, doubtfully, then going back to his scornful tone:  “A month or so afterwards the Sagamore arrives home.  All very jolly at first. . .  Hallo, George boy!  Hallo, Harry, old man! . . .  But by and by Captain Harry thinks his clever brother is not looking very well.  And George begins to look worse.  He can’t get rid of Cloete’s notion.  It has stuck in his head. . .  There’s nothing wrong—­quite well. . .  Captain Harry still anxious.  Business going all right, eh?  Quite right.  Lots of business.  Good business. . .  Of course Captain Harry believes that easily.  Starts chaffing his brother in his jolly way about rolling in money.  George’s shirt sticks to his back with perspiration, and he feels quite angry with the captain. . .  The fool, he says to himself.  Rolling in money, indeed!  And then he thinks suddenly:  Why not? . . .  Because Cloete’s notion has got hold of his mind.