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"I have no idea," Berenice answered. "You are aware," he continued, "that there is in Mannering's past history an episode, the publication of which would entail somewhat serious consequences to him." "Well?" It was a most eloquent monosyllable, but Borrowdean had gone too far to retreat. "I propose that we make use of it," he said.
"If Mannering is not for us, I think that I can at least promise that he does no harm on the other side." Lord Redford turned away from the window. He eyed Borrowdean curiously. "It was you," he remarked, "who brought Mannering back into public life. You had a certain reward for it, and you would have had a much greater one if things had gone our way. But I want you to remember this.
"His speech," he remarked, "sounded even better than it read." "I thought so," she admitted. "He has all the smaller tricks of the orator, as well as the gift of eloquence. One can always listen to him with pleasure." "Will you pardon me," Borrowdean asked, "if I make a remark which may sound a little impertinent? You and Mannering were great friends at Blakely.
You are all so dull, and such scheming brutes, too." Borrowdean smiled. A certain rough-and-ready humour about this woman always appealed to him. He looked around. "You seem to have done very nicely with that little offering," he said. "Oh, ready money goes a long way," she declared, carelessly. "And when it is spent?" he asked. "Five thousand pounds is not an inexhaustible sum."
You were not satisfied with half of my income; you were always in debt, always wanting more money. Then Borrowdean made use of you. He wanted me back into politics, you wanted more money for your follies and extravagances. Back I had to come into harness. Blanche, I've tried to do my duty to you, but there is a limit.
"Lady Redford is, of course, ignorant of Mrs. Mannering's antecedents. What you may do yourself concerns no one. You make your own social laws, and you have a right to. But I do not think that even you have a right to pass Blanche Phillimore on to your friends, even under the shelter of Mannering's name." Berenice looked at him for several seconds without speaking. Borrowdean bit his lip.
Redford, the whole world has never shown us a greater tragedy than the one which we others deliberately and persistently close our eyes to I mean the struggle for life which is being waged in every one of our great cities." "We have statistics," Borrowdean began. "Damn statistics!" Mannering interrupted. "I have juggled with figures myself in the old days, and I know how easy it is.
It was for both your sakes. If there has been any misunderstanding between you, it would be better cleared up." Mannering gripped his arm. "Let us go to your rooms, Borrowdean," he said. "It is time we understood one another." "Willingly!" Borrowdean said. "But your train?" "Let my train go," Mannering answered. "There are some things I have to say to you." Borrowdean called a hansom.
"He is not the sort of man to escape notice," Borrowdean answered. "He will be discovered for certain. Of course, if it comes off all right, the whole thing will be a feather in his cap. But when I think how much we are dependent upon him, I don't like the risk." "You are sure," she remarked, thoughtfully, "that you do not over-rate " "Mannering himself, perhaps," Borrowdean interrupted.
Mannering did not reply. "And Sir Leslie Borrowdean," she continued, "was more than just worth while. I think that he was delightful." "Very young ladies, and very old ones," Mannering remarked, grimly, "generally like Borrowdean." "And what about Mrs. Handsell?" she asked, with a spice of malice in her tone. "Mrs. Handsell," Mannering answered, coolly, "was a very charming woman.
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