“If he has the money, and doesn’t settle, it’ll show what poor collectors we are,” laughed Jack.

“Very few men keep eight hundred dollars around the house,” objected young Hastings.

“And our man won’t have that amount in cash, either.  I’d be almost afraid to take that amount of real money, at night.  If Mr. Forrester is willing to do something pleasant for us, it will be in the form of a check, of course.”

“I’d like to come out all right with Mr. Forrester, of course,” Hal admitted.  “But, to tell the truth, I haven’t been thinking much about Jack, old fellow, all my real thoughts are on our wonderful chance to be part of the trial crew of the ‘Pollard.’”

“Same here,” admitted Benson.  “Say, money does look rather small, compared with a chance like ours.  Now, doesn’t it?”

So they hardly mentioned Mr. Forrester on the rest of that cool, delightful drive.  Arrived at Waverly Center, however, they had to inquire the way to the Forrester house.  They found it, a comfortable though not pretentious house.  The owner was at home, and saw them at once.

“May we see you alone, Mr. Forester?” asked Jack Benson, respectfully.

“Is it as bad as all that?” laughed their host, I a pleasant-faced, rather bald man past forty.  “Come into my little den, then.”

He conducted them to a small room that looked as though it served partly the purposes of library and partly of office.

“Now, what can I do for you?” inquired Mr. Forrester.

“We represent Mr. Farnum, of Dunhaven,” began Jack, slowly.

“Farnum?  Oh, yes, the boat-builder.  He must know that I don’t want anything new in his line, and on any other business I imagine he would have sent someone—­er—­older.”

“Mr. Farnum believed you would find it wholly convenient, now, to settle the account for the last bill,” Benson went on, slipping the statement from an inner pocket and laying it on the desk before Mr. Forrester.  That gentleman frowned slightly.

“I trust we haven’t called at the wrong time, and that it will be wholly convenient for you this evening,” Jack continued.

“But, see here, young man, I know nothing about you.  You have the bill, true, but it is not receipted.”

“I will receipt it, in Mr. Farnum’s name.”

“All well and good,” replied Mr. Forrester.  “But—­pardon me—­how do I know that you have any authority to receipt for this account?”

“Then I think you will appreciate my painstaking care to make everything regular and satisfactory,” laughed Jack, very quietly.  “Here is a paper, signed by Mr. Farnum, authorizing me to receipt this account in his name.  You may keep this authorization along with the receipt.  Mr. Forrester, it is growing late, and we are obliged to be at business early in the morning.  You will oblige us by letting us have your check, won’t you?”

Benson spoke as though he had not a doubt of immediate settlement.  Yet his tone and his manner were such as not to give the least offense to the man who was being “dunned.”