A bolder step than you are
thinking of."
"Well, what do you wait for?"
"I need assistance."
"If I can afford you any aid, _honorably_, I shall be most happy."
"_Honorably_! What the devil do you mean by _honorably_?" said Jaspar,
exasperated by this unexpected display of morality.
"What do I mean by honorably? Why, anything which does not affect the
legal or moral rights of others," replied Maxwell, a little touched by
the seeming reflection of Jaspar.
"Fudge! how long have you been so conscientious?" sneered Jaspar.
"When a man has a reputation to make or break, it becomes him to handle
it with care."
"Out upon you, man! _Your_ reputation is not so fair, that you need be
so tender of it," replied Jaspar, with some severity.
"Sir!"
"O, you needn't '_sir_' me! You have led me to commit myself, and now
assume a virtue you possess not."
"Sir, I value my reputation, and--"
"Of course you do, but you would not sacrifice a fortune for it,"
interrupted Jaspar, easily changing the tenor of the conversation.
"I certainly would not stain it unnecessarily," replied Maxwell, with a
meaning smile, for he saw the folly of attempting the "high flight" with
Jaspar.
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