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"It doesn't do to look at one transaction only, Mr Sloyd," he reminded the spruce but rather nervous young man. "It'll pay you to treat us reasonably. Mr Iver's a good friend to have and a bad enemy." "I'm quite alive to all that; but we have obtained a legitimate advantage and " Sloyd was evidently a little puzzled, and he glanced at the clock.
He was rather the keen man of business, impatient of shuffling, incredulous of any action for which he could not see the motive, distrustful and very shrewd. "Oh, I repeated it to my uncle, because I thought it might amuse him just for something to say." "Your idea of small talk is rather peculiar," was Iver's dry comment.
But Iver's eyes were gazing straight in front of him under brows that frowned heavily. "Now, what I want you to do," he resumed, "and I'm sure you won't refuse me, is this. I'm inclined to dismiss the whole thing as a blunder. I believe Duplay's honest, but I think certain facts in his own position have led him to be too ready to believe a mere yarn.
Perhaps the proper conclusion would be that in such a case the fancies too have their share of reality. "Neeld and I go down to Fairholme to-morrow, Harry," said Iver as they parted. "No chance of seeing you down there, I suppose?" Neeld thought the question rather brutal; Iver's feelings were not perhaps of the finest. But Harry was apparently unconscious of anything that grated.
He went home and wrote to Iver. The letter weighed all considerations save the one which really weighed with him; he put himself fairly in Iver's hands but did not conceal his own wish; he knew that if Iver were against the idea on solid business grounds, he would not be affected by Harry's personal preference.
I don't want what you call proofs though you'll want them badly if you mean to pursue your present line. I have my own proofs perfectly in order, perfectly satisfactory. That's all I have to say about my part of the matter. About your part in it I can, I think, be almost equally brief. Are you merely Mr Iver's friend, or are you also, as you put it, paying attentions to Miss Iver?"
"Yes, I do," said the old gentleman with the promptness of desperation. "Then your idea of friendship differs diametrically from mine. I desire no such friends as that." It is to be hoped that the sting of Iver's remark was somewhat mitigated by Mina's covertly telegraphed gratitude. Yet Neeld was no happier after his effort than before it. A silence fell on them all.
It was perhaps the most significant tribute that Harry had yet received when, after a few minutes of surprise and a few more of consideration, Iver telegraphed back that he would come up to town, and wished an appointment to be made for him with Mr Tristram. It was something to force Napoleon to come to the Peninsula. In fact, the only thing that could upset Iver's plans was blank defiance.
Her tone was gay; she was overflowing with joy and merriment. "Who's going away? Oh, is it you, Mr Neeld?" "I I have a trap from Mr Iver's," he stammered. "I may want to send a message," Harry explained. "Kind of you to come, Mr Neeld." "I I must wish you joy," said Neeld, taking refuge in conventionality. "We've had a capital journey down, haven't we, Cecily? And I'm awfully hungry.
"That's one of the penalties of a reputation like Iver's, isn't it?" "But I didn't know you'd taken to business at all." "Oh, one must do something. I can't sit down on four hundred a year, you know. Besides, this is hardly business. By-the-bye, though, I ought to be as much surprised to see you. We've both lost our situation, is that it, Major?"
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