Part 8 (1/2)
”Your perception is excellent, my young friend.”
”When?”
Mr Halgrove looked at his watch.
”I believe Mrs Jessop usually locks up about eleven. It would be a pity to keep her up after that hour.”
Jeffreys gulped down something like a sigh and turned to the door.
”Not going, are you?” said the guardian. ”It's early yet.”
”I am going,” replied the ward quietly.
”By the way,” said Mr Halgrove, as he reached the door, ”by the way, John--”
Jeffreys stopped with his hand on the latch.
”I was going to say,” said the guardian, rising and looking for his cigar-case, ”that the little sum of money which was left by your father, and invested for your benefit, has very unfortunately taken to itself wings, owing to the failure of the undertaking in which it happened to be invested. I have the papers here, and should like to show them to you, if you can spare me five minutes.”
Jeffreys knew nothing about money. Hitherto his school fees had been paid, and a small regular allowance for pocket-money had been sent him quarterly by his guardian. Now his guardian's announcement conveyed little meaning to him beyond the fact that he had no money to count upon. He never expected he would have; so he was not disappointed.
”I don't care to see the papers,” he said.
”You are a philosopher, my friend,” said his guardian. ”But I have sufficient interest in you, despite your financial difficulties, to believe you might find this five-pound note of service on your travels.”
”No, thank you,” said Jeffreys, putting his hand behind his back.
”Don't mention it,” said his guardian, returning it to his pocket.
”There is, when I come to think of it,” added he, ”a sovereign which really belongs to you. It is the balance of your last quarter's allowance, which I had been about to send to you this week. I would advise you to take it.”
”Is it really mine?”
”Pray come and look over the accounts. I should like to satisfy you.”
”If it is really mine I will take it,” said the boy.
”You are sensible,” said his guardian, putting it into his hand. ”You are perfectly safe in taking it. It is yours. It will enable you to buy a few postage stamps. I shall be interested to hear of your success. Good-bye.”
Jeffreys, ignoring the hand which was held out to him, walked silently from the room. Mr Halgrove stood a moment and listened to the retreating footsteps. Then he returned to his chair and rang the bell.
”Mrs Jessop,” said he, ”Mr Jeffreys is going on a journey. Will you kindly see he has a good meal before starting?”
Mrs Jessop went upstairs and found Jeffreys writing a letter.
”Master says you're going a journey, sir.”
”Yes. I shall be starting in half an hour.”