Part 35 (2/2)
”Ah--now I have it. 'Very pleasant relations terminated on a note--on a note of--on an unexpected note.
”'With kind regards, very sincerely yours,
”'HORATIO BYSSHE WADDINGTON.'
”You will see, Barbara, that I am saying precisely the same thing, but saying it inoffensively, as a gentleman should.”
Forty-eight hours later he dictated:
”'DEAR MRS. LEVITT:
”'No: I have no suggestion to make except that you curtail your very considerable expenditure. For the rest, believe me it is as disagreeable for me to be obliged to refuse your request as I am sure it must be for you to make it--'
”H'm. Rest--request. That won't do. 'As disagreeable for me to have to refuse as it must be for you to ask.'
”Simpler, that. Never use an elaborate phrase where a simple one will do.
”'You are good enough to say I have done so much for you in the past. I have done what I could; but you will pardon me if I say there is a limit beyond which I cannot go.
”'Sincerely yours,
”'HORATIO B. WADDINGTON.'
”I've sent her a cheque for fifty-five pounds already. That ought to have settled her.”
”Settled her? You don't mean to say you sent her a _cheque?_”
”I did.”
”You oughtn't to have sent her anything at all.”
”But I'd promised it, Barbara--”
”I don't care. You ought to have waited.”
”I wanted to close the account and have done with her.”
”That isn't the way to close it, sending cheques. That cheque will have to go through Parson's Bank. Supposing Toby sees it?”
”What if he does?”
”He might object. He might even make a row about it.”
”What could I do? I had to pay her.”
”You could have made the cheque payable to me. It would have pa.s.sed as my quarter's salary. I could have cashed it and you could have given her notes.”
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