Part 3 (1/2)
”I don't knohat you heard, father, but it seems to have been knocked down to me at 2,300 It's a lotto ask you to lend me the money for the sake of the family credit, if not for my own But we can talk about that afterwards”
”Yes, Stephen, we can talk of that afterwards In fact, as there is no time like the present, ill talk of it now Come to my office And, sir” (this was toof the circumstances, I will ask you to come also; and you too, Blockhead” (this was to Woodden, who just then approached with the plant)
Now, of course, I ht have refused an invitation conveyed in such a manner But, as aout; also to put in a word for young Soot the chance So we all departed from that room, followed by a titter of amusement from those of the company who had overheard the conversation In the street stood a splendid carriage and pair; a powdered footman opened its door With a ferocious bow Sir Alexanderone of the back seats as it gave more room for my tin case Then ca the precious plant in front of him like a wand of office, and last of all, Sir Alexander, having seen us safe, entered also
”Where to, sir?” asked the footman
”Office,” he snapped, and we started
Four disappointed relatives in a funeral coach could not have been s seemed to be too deep for words Sir Alexander, however, did make one remark and to me It was: ”If you will remove the corner of that infernal tin box of yours froed to you, sir”
”Your pardon,” I exclai, dropped it on his toe I will not repeat the reouty His son suddenly became afflicted with a sense of the absurdity of the situation He kicked an to swell visibly with suppressed laughter I was in agony, for if he had exploded I do not knoould have happened Fortunately, at this e stopped at the door of a fine office Without waiting for the foot-I suppose to laugh in safety Then I descended with the tin case; then, by command, followed Woodden with the flower, and lastly came Sir Alexander
”Stop here,” he said to the coachood as to follow me, Mr What's-your-name, and you, too, Gardener”
We followed, and found ourselves in a big room luxuriously furnished in a heavy kind of way Sir Alexander Somers, I should explain, was an enormously opulent bullion-broker, whatever a bullion-broker may be In this room Mr Stephen was already established; indeed, he was seated on the -sill swinging his leg
”Noe are alone and corowled Sir Alexander with sarcastic ferocity
”As the boa-constrictor said to the rabbit in the cage,” I rerown nervous, and the thought leapt froan to swell He turned his face to theas though to conte A dience shone in Woodden's pale eyes About threeabout boa-constrictors and rabbits and gave a short, loud laugh As for Sir Alexander, he merely said: ”I did not catch your reood as to repeat it?”
As I appeared unwilling to accept the invitation, he went on: ”Perhaps, then, you would repeat what you told me in that sale-room?”
”Why should I?” I asked ”I spoke quite clearly and you seeht,” replied Sir Alexander; ”to waste ti near the door still holding the paper-wrapped plant in front of hiht that thing”
Woodden made no answer, only rocked a little Sir Alexander reiterated his command This time Woodden set the plant upon a table and replied: ”If you're aspeaking to me, sir, that baint ain, I'll punch your head, whoever you be,” and very deliberately he rolled up the sleeves on his brawny aran to sith inward merri forward ”What's the use of all this? The thing's perfectly plain I did tell Woodden to buy the plant at any price What is ave him a written authority which was passed up to the auctioneer There's no getting out of it It is true it never occurred tolike 2,300-the odd 300 was ht not to be abused for doing so”
”There's what I call a ,” re man,” said Sir Alexander, ”you have purchased this article Will you be so good as to tell me how you propose it should be paid for”
”I propose, father, that you should pay for it,” replied Mr Stephen sweetly ”Two thousand three hundred pounds, or ten times that amount, would not make you appreciably poorer But if, as is probable, you take a different view, then I propose to pay for it myself As you know a certain sum of money came to me under my mother's will in which you have only a life interest I shall raise the amount upon that security-or otherwise”
If Sir Alexander had been angry before, now he became like a mad bull in a china shop He pranced round the rooe that should not pass the lips of any respectablethat a person in his position ought not to do When he was tired he rushed to a desk, tore a cheque from a book and filled it in for a sum of 2,300 to bearer, which cheque he blotted, crumpled up and literally threw at the head of his son
”You worthless, idle young scoundrel,” he bellowed ”I put you in this office here that you may learn respectable and orderly habits and in due course succeed to a very comfortable business What happens? You don't take a ha'porth of interest in bullion-broking, a subject of which I believe you to renorant You don't even spend your entle, or cards, or even-well, never mind No, you take to flowers, s that a cow eats and clerks grow in back gardens”
”An ancient and Arcadian taste Adaarden,” I ventured to interpolate
”Perhaps you would ask your friend with the stubbly hair to remain quiet,” snorted Sir Alexander ”I was about to add, although for the sake of h of this kind of thing I disinherit you, or will do if I live till 4 pm when the lawyer's office shuts, for thank God! there are no entailed estates, and I dis in any way you please, by orchid-hunting if you like” He paused, gasping for breath
”Is that all, father?” asked Mr Stephen, producing a cigar froar That house you occupy at Twickenhah to clear out of it; I wish to take possession”
”I suppose, father, I am entitled to a week's notice like any other tenant,” said Mr Stephen, lighting the cigar ”In fact,” he added, ”if you answer no, I think I shall ask you to apply for an ejection order You will understand that I have arrange a fresh start in life”
”Oh! curse your cheek, you-you-cucued the infuriated merchant prince Then an inspiration caly flower than of your father, do you? Well, at least I'll put an end to that,” and he made a dash at the plant on the table with the evident intention of destroying the sa Woodden saw With a kind of lurch he interposed his big frame between Sir Alexander and the object of his wrath
”Touch 'O Paving' and I knocks yer down,” he drawled out
Sir Alexander looked at ”O Paving,” then he looked at Woodden's leg-of-,'” he said, ”and everyone who has to do with it,” and swung out of the roo the door behind hiently, as he fanned hi while it lasted, wasn't it, Mr Quatermain-but I have been there before, so to speak And nohat do you say to soood oysters Only I think we'll drive round by the bank and hand in this cheque When he's angry ht even stop it Woodden, get off down to Twickenham with 'O Pavo' Keep it warm, for it feels rather like frost Put it in the stove for to-night and give it a little, just a little tepid water, but be careful not to touch the flower Take a four-wheeled cab, it's slow but safe, and mind you keep the s up and don't smoke I shall be home for dinner”
Woodden pulled his forelock, seized the pot in his left hand, and departed with his right fist raised-I suppose in case Sir Alexander should be waiting for him round the corner
Then we departed also and, after stopping for a minute at the bank to pay in the cheque, which I noted, notwithstanding its amount, was accepted without comment, ate oysters in a place too crowded to allow of conversation
”Mr Quatermain,” said my host, ”it is obvious that we cannot talk here, and much less look at that orchid of yours, which I want to study at leisure Now, for a week or so at any rate I have a roof over ht or two? I know nothing about you, and of me you only know that I aive satisfaction Still it is possible that weof flowers and other things; that is, if you have no previous engageer froive ht at your house with pleasure”
By the aid of Mr So at a city mee reached Twickenhaht The house, which was called Verbena Lodge, was sian period, but the gardens covered quite an acre of ground and were very beautiful, or reenhouse we did not enter, because it was too late to see the flowers Also, just e came to them, Woodden arrived in his four-wheeled cab and departed with hisof ”O Pavo”
Then came dinner, a very pleasant meal My host had that day been turned out upon the world, but he did not allow this circumstance to interfere with his spirits in the least Also he was evidently deters while they lasted, for his chane and port were excellent
”You see, Mr Quatermain,” he said, ”it's just as e had the rohich has been boiling up for a long while My respected father has o and do likewise Now I don't see it I like flowers, especially orchids, and I hate bullion-broking To me the only decent places in London are that sale-room where we met and the Horticultural Gardens”
”Yes,” I answered rather doubtfully, ”but the matter seems a little serious Your parent was very e,” and I pointed to the beautiful silver and the port, ”hoill you like roughing it in a hard world?”
”Don't think I shall e Also, even if my father doesn't alter his mind, as he may, for he likes s ain't so very bad I have got some money that she left lossuold-he was thebeard who you tellhiht I don't think I have any debts to speak of, for the Governor has been allowing me 3,000 a year, at least that is my share of the profits paid tolabours, and except flowers, I have no expensive tastes So the devil take the past, here's to the future and whatever it lass of port he held and laughed in his jolly fashi+on
Really he was aman, a little reckless, it is true, but then recklessness and youth mix well, like brandy and soda
I echoed the toast and drank off et it, as would anyone who has had to live for rees with me better than the port
”Now, Mr Quaterht your pipe and let's go into the other rooht unless I see it again first Stop a bit, though, we'll get hold of that old ass, Woodden, before he turns in”
”Woodden,” said his entle to show you an orchid that is ten ti pardon, sir,” answered Woodden, ”but if Mr Quatermain says that, he lies It ain't in Nature; it don't blooolden Cypripediuain and felt his head as though to asped
”Well, if that there flower baint made up, it's a MASTER ONE! If I could see that there flower ablowing on the plant I'd die happy”