Fenton opened his bill, a nervous squeak the only audible response to Scrooge's inquiry.

"Were ye plannin' on tellin' me about any o' this?"

"I -- I didn't think it would matter!" Fenton stammered, loosening his collar desperately. "W - why would you care? Is it hot in here?" He fidgeted. "I'm hot!"

Glowering, Scrooge adjusted the chenille throw he had around his shoulders for warmth. "It's cold in here. Very cold. I dinn'a want to turn th' heater on yet this season."

In actuality, it was probably colder in that room than was Scrooge's subzero glare.

"I -- uh -- I don't think I understand your concern," said Fenton cautiously.

"I've vested interest here," Scrooge snapped, tapping his index finger painfully on his desktop. "That's none o'yer business! B'sides, I paid you th' overtime to find her two years ago! It was on your paycheck but you dinn'a complete th' assignment! So go 'n' fetch me th' girl!"

Fenton appeared to be only a couple minutes from having a complete nervous breakdown. "But -- but Mr. McDuck, I've tried! She's -- well, she's not listening to me!"

Scrooge's icy demeanor suddenly warmed for some reason. "How've ye been approachin' her, laddie?"

Frowning, Fenton answered, "Well, as Giz-- "

"What?" Scrooge cried. "Go get her as you! As Fenton!"

Fenton regarded the aging miser as though his bill had fallen off his face and landed on the desk between them. "With all due respect, Mr. McDuck, think what you're asking me! You know I'm nothing without the Gizmosuit!"

If Scrooge had not learned to think before responding throughout all his business transactions, he might have been inclined to promptly -- and generously -- agree with Fenton's self-deprecating declaration. In a way, that was exactly what he ended up doing. "Yer a fool!"

Fenton flinched but didn't argue with the assessment.

"Fenton . . . Were ye th' only one who dinn'a see how in love she was wi' ye? How she gazed at ye, hung on to every word ye ever told her?"

Fenton gaped wordlessly at Scrooge.

"Ye . . . Ye dinn'a see it yerself?" Scrooge asked quietly. "If ye dinn'a know, why did ye spend all that time wi' her?"

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