I should
be willing to steer my course accordingly--to give you a reasonable
freedom. There are two old clerks in the estate-office, who know
everything that is to be known about the property, and there are my
solicitors both in Carlisle and Pengarth. For the rest, you are a lawyer,
and there are some litigations pending. Your legal knowledge would be of
considerable service. If you are the clever fellow I take you for, a
month or two's hard work, the usual technical books, some expert
advice--and I have little doubt you would make as good an agent as any of
them. Mind, I am _not_ prepared to spend unlimited money--nor to run my
estates as a Socialist concern. But I gather you are as good a
Conservative as myself."
Faversham was silent a moment, observing the man before him. The whole
thing was too astounding. At last he said: "You are not prepared, sir,
you say, to spend unlimited money. But the sum you offer me is unheard
of."
"For an agent, yes--for a secretary, yes--for a combination of the two,
under the peculiar circumstances, the market offers no precedents. You
and I make a market--and a price."
"You would expect me to live in this house?"
"I gather these rooms are not disagreeable to you?"
"Disagreeable! They are too sumptuous. If _I_ did this thing, sir, I
should want to do it in a businesslike way."
"You want an office? Take your choice." Melrose's gesture indicated the
rest of the house. "There are rooms enough.
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