Ramsey. "You take him with such superhuman calm when homicide would shock nobody."
Jay was wondering about it, himself. He was sure to lose and, at the end of another hour, have to pay a couple of hundred dollars which he could not at all afford. He would be short on his hotel bill and obliged therefore, if he would not borrow from his wife, to wire his father.
He would not ask or receive a loan from Lida; upon that, he was determined. He had resolved, also, not to send to his father for money; he would not have remained until he had run up a bill which he could not pay; but here he was, put in that situation by Phil Metten—more than enough to anger any one.
Jay did not anger easily; but he could not assign his calmness this morning to the score of mere good temper or manners, nor could he credit it, entirely, to his feeling that, having advised Phil Metten to come to Tryston, he was responsible for certain consequences. Another element entered; and this was the fact, which his partner never for a moment forgot and had mentioned at the minute of meeting, that Phil Metten was a buyer and Jay Rountree was a Seller of the same thing; prospectively as yet rather than actually, but already, and surprisingly, it influenced: their relations. Jay Rountree was restraining his exasperation this morning because he knew that, when his pockets again were empty, he must refill them by his own efforts in business; and rewards, in the Rountree line of business, came from friendly relations with Phil Metten and others like him.
That was why Lowry, the salesmanager, had been so
