' Those were Sir
Percival's words a fortnight ago, and all I can get him to do now
is to repeat them. I am not a hard man, Mr. Gilmore, as you know.
Personally and privately, I do assure you, I should like to sponge
out that note of mine at this very moment. But if Sir Percival
won't go into the matter, if Sir Percival will blindly leave all
his interests in my sole care, what course can I possibly take
except the course of asserting them? My hands are bound--don't you
see, my dear sir?--my hands are bound."
"You maintain your note on the clause, then, to the letter?" I
said.
"Yes--deuce take it! I have no other alternative." He walked to
the fireplace and warmed himself, humming the fag end of a tune in
a rich convivial bass voice. "What does your side say?" he went
on; "now pray tell me--what does your side say?"
I was ashamed to tell him. I attempted to gain time--nay, I did
worse. My legal instincts got the better of me, and I even tried
to bargain.
"Twenty thousand pounds is rather a large sum to be given up by
the lady's friends at two days' notice," I said.
"Very true," replied Mr. Merriman, looking down thoughtfully at
his boots. "Properly put, sir--most properly put!"
"A compromise, recognising the interests of the lady's family as
well as the interests of the husband, might not perhaps have
frightened my client quite so much," I went on.
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