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Heythorp, that your fees and dividends should enable you to set aside for us a larger sum. Sixteen hundred, in fact, is what we think you should give us yearly. Representing, as we do, sixteen thousand pounds, the prospect is not cheering, but we hope you have some good years before you yet. We understand your income to be two thousand pounds." Old Heythorp shook his head.
Ventnor heard it ring, and said sharply: "Mind you, it's nothing to me which you do. I came for your own good. Please yourself. Well?" He was answered by the click of the door and the old man's husky voice: "Show this hound out! And then come back!" Mr. Ventnor had presence of mind enough not to shake his fist. Muttering: "Very well, Mr. Heythorp! Ah! Very well!" he moved with dignity to the door.
Pillin, sir; and will you wait lunch, or will you have it in the dining-room?" "In the dining-room." At sight of that death's-head of a fellow, old Heythorp felt a sort of pity. He looked bad enough already and this news would make him look worse. Joe Pillin glanced round at the two closed doors. "How are you, Sylvanus? I'm very poorly."
Encircled from behind by the arms of Phyllis, and preceded by the gracious perfumed bulk of Mrs. Larne, old Heythorp was escorted to the sofa. It was low, and when he had plumped down into it, the boy Jock emitted a hollow groan. Bob Pillin was the first to break the silence. "How are you, sir? I hope it's gone through." Old Heythorp nodded. His eyes were fixed on the liqueur, and Mrs.
Still, anyway you looked at it, he had a right to investigate a fraud on himself as a shareholder of "The Island Navigation Company," and a fraud on himself as a creditor of old Heythorp. Quite! But suppose this Mrs. Larne was really entangled with old Pillin, and the settlement a mere reward of virtue, easy or otherwise.
There was nothing to prevent a man from settling money on a woman he had never seen; and so old Pillin's settlement could probably not be upset. But old Heythorp could. It was neat, though, oh! neat! And that was a fine woman remarkably!
What had brought her here? She knew she mustn't come! Old Heythorp had watched her entrance with cynical amusement. The way she whiffed herself at that young pup in passing, the way her eyes slid round! He had a very just appreciation of his son's widow; and a smile settled deep between his chin tuft and his moustache.
He received the unexpected order: "Get me a hot bath ready, and put some pine stuff in it." When the old man was seated there, the valet asked: "How long shall I give you, sir?" "Twenty minutes." "Very good, sir." Lying in that steaming brown fragrant liquid, old Heythorp heaved a stertorous sigh. By losing his temper with that ill-conditioned cur he had cooked his goose.
Issuing from the offices of "The Island Navigation Company," Sylvanus Heythorp moved towards the corner whence he always took tram to Sefton Park. The crowded street had all that prosperous air of catching or missing something which characterises the town where London and New York and Dublin meet. Old Heythorp had to cross to the far side, and he sallied forth without regard to traffic.
If only he knew how far the old boy really counted in the matter! To say: "My intentions are strictly honourable" would be old-fashioned; besides the old fellow might have no right to hear it. They called him Guardy, but without knowing more he did not want to admit the old curmudgeon's right to interfere. "Are you a relation of theirs, sir?" Old Heythorp nodded.
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