"Thank you." Sanford was sparring for breath. "I haven't pestered you much with my personal affairs, have I?"
"You couldn't 'pester' me with them, Stephen. If I can serve you I'll be as glad to as you would be to reciprocate."
"Yes, yes." The visitor still employed monosyllables as far as possible as his vehicle of expression, but he was mastering his emotion.
"Have you seen Allen?" Gorham asked, naturally but unfortunately.
Sanford sprang out of his chair and waved his arms wildly. "Why do you try to stir me all up again ?" he cried. "Can't you let me get my breath?"
Gorham looked at him amazed. "Has anything happened?" he asked.
"The young reprobate! I'll show him. I've cut him off without a penny, Robert; do you understand--without a penny!"
"You've done what?" Gorham demanded, his face sobering.
"I'll show him that he can't make a monkey out of his father. You've seen him, Robert. You know what an obstinate, headstrong cub he is. Wants to go into business, does he? Thinks he knows what's good for him better than his father does, does he? I'll show him. He can go to the devil now--that's where he can go."
Gorham knew better than to interrupt Sanford until his tirade was spent. He watched him pacing up and down the room; he noted the twitching of his features, the clenched hands, and the violent color in his face.
"You're taking chances to let yourself get worked up like this, Stephen," he said, quietly, at length. "You and I are growing older, and our systems won't stand what they used to."
Sanford stopped abruptly. "That's what he's counting on, the ingrate. I've spent my whole life building up those furnaces and making money so that he might be a gentleman. Now he throws it all over, and he thinks I'll shuffle off in one of these spells; but I'll fix him. Not a penny of my money shall he get--not one penny."
"How has Allen disgraced himself? Has he been stealing, or is it forgery or murder?"
"You--you," Sanford sputtered, "you dare to suggest that my boy would disgrace himself! You--you--"
"Sit down, Stephen, and calm yourself," Gorham laughed. "No one could think of a less heinous crime than I have suggested, judging by your own arraignment of the boy. How can I help you unless you tell me what has happened?"