He would have said that
theoretically there was no difference between intention and commission,
and however casuists might reason, he took a curious delight in being
scrupulously exacting with himself in his moral requirements, the fact
that he held himself in his actions practically above such
considerations naturally making this less difficult than it otherwise
would have been. Every man has his private ethical methods, and this
was the way in which Arthur Fenton's mind held itself in regard to that
right of which he often denied the existence.
"I suppose," he remarked at length, with deliberate intent of
entrapping Hubbard into some inadvertent betrayal of his secret, "that
you business men have no sort of an idea how ignorant a man of my
profession can be in regard to business. I had a note this morning from
a broker whom I've been having help me a little in a sort of infantile
attempt at stock gambling, and he advises me to find a financial
kindergarten and attend it."
"I dare say he is right," the other returned, smiling. "You had better
beware of stock gambling, if you are not desirous of ending your days
in a poorhouse."
"But what can one do? It is only the men of large experience and so
much capital that they do not need it who have a chance at safe
investments."
He felt that he was bungling horribly, but he knew no other way of
getting on in his attempt.
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