Part 2 (2/2)

”Well then, please do as I ask you. You had better start at the beginning of your relations with Sir Reginald.”

Malcolm Cromarty's face expressed surprise, but the lawyer's was distinctly less severe, and he began readily enough:

”Well, of course, as you know, my cousin Charles Cromarty died about 18 months ago and I became the heir to the baronetcy--” he broke off and asked, ”Do you mean you want me to go over all that?”

Simon nodded, and he went on:

”Sir Reginald was devilish good at first--in his own patronising way, let me stay at Keldale as often and as long as I liked, made me an allowance and so on; but there was always this fuss about my taking up something a little more conventional than literature. Ha, ha!” The young man laughed in a superior way and then looked apprehensively at the other. ”But I suppose you agree with Sir Reginald?”

Simon pursed his lips and made a non-committal sound.

”Well, anyhow, he wanted me to be called to the Bar or something of that kind, and then there was a fuss about money--his ideas of an allowance are rather old fas.h.i.+oned, as you know. And then you were good enough to help me with that loan, and--well, that's all, isn't it?”

Mr. Rattar had been listening with extreme attention. He now nodded, and a smile for a moment seemed to light his chilly eyes.

”I see that you quite realise your position, Mr. Cromarty,” he said.

”Realise it!” cried the young man. ”My G.o.d, I'm in a worse hole----” he broke off abruptly.

”Worse than you have admitted to me?” said Simon quickly and again with a smile in his eye.

Malcolm Cromarty hesitated, ”Sir Reginald is so d.a.m.ned narrow! If he wants to drive me to the devil--well, let him! But I say, Mr. Rattar, what are you going to do?”

For some moments Simon said nothing. At length he answered:

”I shall not press for repayment at present.”

His visitor rose with a sigh of relief and as he said good-bye his condescending manner returned as readily as it had gone.

”Good morning and many thanks,” said he, and then hesitated for an instant. ”You couldn't let me have a very small cheque, just to be going on with, could you?”

”Not this morning, Mr. Cromarty.”

Mr. Cromarty's look of despair returned.

”Well,” he cried darkly as he strode to the door, ”people who treat a man in my position like this are responsible for--er----!” The banging of the door left their precise responsibility in doubt.

Simon Rattar gazed after him with an odd expression. It seemed to contain a considerable infusion of complacency. And then he rang for his clerk.

”Get me the Cromarty estate letter book,” he commanded.

The book was brought and this time he had about ten minutes to himself before the clerk entered again.

”Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland to see you, sir,” he announced.

This announcement seemed to set the lawyer thinking hard. Then in his abrupt way he said:

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