Part 22 (2/2)
”No, thank you, my letter is stamped.” He held the letter in the box unable to loose his fingers, embarra.s.sed in the consideration whether marriage would permit him to develop his artistic nature as he intended. Lizzie was looking at him, and it was with difficulty that he concealed from her the fact that he had not dropped his letter in the box.
When they returned to the cottage they found Thigh and Frank were turning over the pages of the last number of the _Pilgrim_.
”Just let's go through the paper,” said Frank. ”One, two, three--twelve columns of paragraphs! and I'll bet that in every one of those columns there is a piece of news artistic, political, or social, which no other paper has got. Here are three articles, one written by our friend here, one by me, and one by a man whose name I am not at liberty to mention; but I may tell you he has written some well-known books, and is a constant contributor to the _Fortnightly_; here is a column of gossip from Paris excellently well done; here is a short story ... What do you think the paper wants?”
Thigh was a very small and very neatly-dressed man. His manner was quiet and reserved, and he caressed a large fair moustache with his left hand, on which a diamond ring sparkled.
”I think it wants smartening up all round,” he said. ”You want to make it smarter; people will have things bright nowadays.”
”Bright!” said Frank; ”I don't know where you are going for brightness nowadays. Just look at the other papers--here is the _Club_--did you ever see such a rag? Here is the _Spy_--I don't think you could tell if you were reading a number of last year or this week if you didn't look at the date! I've given them up for news. I look to see if they have got a new advertis.e.m.e.nt; if they have, I send Tomlinson and see if I can get one too.”
Thigh made some judicious observations, and the conversation was continued during dinner. Frank and Mike vying with each other to show their deference to Thigh's literary opinions--Lizzie eager to know what he thought of her dinner.
Thigh said the turbot was excellent, that the cutlets were very nice, that the birds were splendid; the jam pudding was voted delicious.
And they leaned back in their chairs, their eyes filled with the torpor of digestion. Frank brought out a bottle of old port, the last of a large supply which he had had from Mount Rorke's wine merchant.
The pleasure of the wine was in their stomachs, and under its influence they talked of Tennyson, Leonardo da Vinci, Corot, and the _Ingoldsby Legends_. The servant had brought in the lamp, cigars were lighted, the clock struck nine. As yet not a word had been spoken of the business, and seeing that Mike was deep in conversation with Lizzie, Frank moved his chair towards Thigh, and said--
”Well, what about buying half of the paper?”
”I'm quite ready to buy half the paper on the conditions I've already offered you.”
”But they won't do. If I have to go smash, I may as well go smash for a large sum as a small one. To clear myself of debts I must have five hundred pounds.”
”Well, you'll get six hundred; you'll receive a thousand and you'll give me back four hundred.”
”Yes, but I did not tell you that I have sold a small share in the paper to an old schoolfellow of mine. When I have paid him I shall have only two hundred, and that won't be of the slightest use to me.”
”Oh, you have sold part of the paper already, have you? How do you know your friend will consent to be bought out? That complicates matters.”
”My friend only did it to oblige me; he is only too anxious to be bought out. He is in a fearful funk lest he should be compromised in a libel action.”
”Oh, then I think it can be managed. Were I in your place I should try and get rid of him for nothing. I can't offer you better terms; it wouldn't pay me to do so; I might as well start a new paper.”
”Yes, but tell me, how can I get rid of him for nothing?”
Thigh looked at Frank inquiringly, and apparently satisfied he drew his chair nearer, stroked his moustache, and said, speaking under his breath--
”Have you collected what money is owing to the paper lately? Have you many outstanding debts?”
”We have got some.”
”Well, don't collect any money that is owing, but make out a long statement of the paper's liabilities; don't say a word about the outstanding debts, and tell your friend that he is responsible as part owner of the paper for this money. When you have sufficiently frightened him, suggest that he should sign over his share to you, you being a man of straw whom it would be useless to proceed against.
Or you might get your printer to press you for money--”
”That won't be difficult.”
”Offer him a bill, and then mix the two accounts up together.”
At this moment Mike was speaking to Lizzie of love. She told him there was no real happiness except in married life, a.s.sured him that though they might be beggars to-day, she would not give up her husband for all the wealth of the three kingdoms.
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