“I guess Brunt would do that,” replied Vandover.

“Yes,” retorted Geary, watchful as a lynx, “but they would charge you a big commission.  Of course I wouldn’t think of asking you anything more than the actual costs.  I am afraid that they would try to sell it at auction, too, if they knew you had to realize on it in so short a time, and it would go for a mere song then; you know how it is.”

“I thought,” inquired Vandover, “that you wanted that property.”

“Yes,” replied Geary, hesitating, “I—­I did want to buy it of you once; well, for that matter I do now.  But you know how it is with me.”

“I might as well sell it to you as to any one else,” returned Vandover.

“Well, now, it’s like this, Van,” said Geary.  “I know that block is worth nine thousand dollars; I won’t deceive you.  But I can only give you eight thousand for it.  That’s all the money I’ve got.  But I’m not going to take advantage of your position to jew you down.  I want the block, I’ll admit that, but I’m not going to have you sacrifice it for me, or for any one else.  I think you can get nine thousand for it.  I know you could if we had a little more time, and I’m not sure but what I could find a purchaser for you within the next week that would give you nine thousand.”

“Oh, I don’t care, Charlie; I’m sick of everything; eight thousand, nine thousand, anything you like; take it at your own figure.”

Geary began to tremble once more, and this time his excitement was so great that he hardly dared to trust himself to speak; his breath grew short, his hands in his pockets twitched nervously, and curled themselves into fists, his heart seemed to him to beat high in his throat; he hesitated long, pretending to deliberate as he steadied himself.

Vandover remained silent, his hands still clasped back of his head, staring at the opposite wall with eyes that saw nothing.  The little clock began to strike ten.

“I don’t know, Van,” said Geary; “I don’t like to do this, and yet I would like to help you out of this muss.  You see, if I should ever benefit by the property you would feel as though I had taken advantage of you at this time and worked a flim-flam on you!”

“Oh, I’ll look out for that,” returned Vandover.

“No, no, I don’t feel quite right about it,” answered Geary, wagging his head and shutting his eyes.  “Better see what we can do at a forced sale.”

“Why, don’t you see you would be doing me a favour?” said Vandover wearily.  “I ask you to buy the block.  I don’t care what your figure is!”

Once more Geary hesitated, for the last time going over the whole deal in his mind from beginning to end, testing it, looking for weak points.  It was almost perfect.  Suppose the boot and shoe people did not buy the lot?  He could resell it elsewhere, even below its appraised value and yet make money by the transaction; the lot was cheap at ten thousand; it might bring twelve; even as an ordinary, legitimate speculation it was to be desired at such a figure.  Suppose the boot and shoe people backed out entirely, suppose even he could not find another purchaser for the property, why, then, he could hold on to it; the income from the rents was fully 10 per cent. of the price he would have paid for it.