Part 44 (2/2)
”Then I am at least warned.”
”As you will. You are a fool, Christopher, perhaps I am well quit of you.”
”I think that is quite likely,” returned Christopher gravely, with a faint twinkle of amus.e.m.e.nt in his eyes. He went away despondently, however, and stopped at the door.
”When would you like me to go?”
”I told you: we go up to London on Monday,” said the millionaire sharply. ”I engaged you to buy a car and you must buy it.”
”I am quite ready to do so.”
He left the room with an appalling sense of defeat and humiliation on him. He could hardly credit a victory that left him so bruised and spiritless. It was in his mind to run away and avoid his engagement in London. He might even have done so but for Peter's remark. He walked across the hall with downcast eyes and nearly fell against a tall thin form.
”Nevil!” cried Christopher.
”Yes, Nevil. Christopher, could I be had up for libel if I wrote the life of a railway train?”
CHAPTER XXII
Christopher led the way into the nearest room and turned to Nevil with an anxious face.
”What is wrong? Is it Caesar?” He stopped abruptly.
”There's nothing wrong. Mayn't anyone leave Marden but you, you young autocrat?”
Nevil deposited his lanky self in a comfortable chair and smiled in his slow way. Then he looked round the room with a critical, disapproving eye.
”Is Peter at home?” he asked, ”and do you think he could put me up for a night? I suppose I ought to see him.”
Christopher did not offer to move.
”You shan't see him till you tell me what brings you here, Nevil,” he said firmly.
The other shook his head. ”That's a bad argument, Christopher.
However, I'll pretend it's effectual. There's a man at Leamington who has some records he considers priceless, but which I think are frauds.
I thought if I came up to-day I could travel down with you to-morrow.”
It sounded plausible--too plausible when Christopher considered the difficulty it was to rouse Nevil even to go to London. There might be a man in Leamington, but he didn't believe Nevil had come to see him.
”You are growing very energetic, Nevil,” he said slowly, ”all this trouble over some fraudulent records.”
”They might be genuine, and really important,” Nevil suggested cautiously.
”At all events I was not returning till Sat.u.r.day, and Mr. Masters wants me to stay till Monday now, and go to London with him then.”
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