"
"I have never," Aynesworth declared, "possessed a superfluous
half-crown in my life."
"You probably possess what is called a sense of honor," Wingrave
continued. "You would certainly disapprove of some of my proceedings,
and you would probably disobey my orders."
"Sense of honor!" Aynesworth repeated. "You have too flattering an
opinion of me. I don't know what it is. I always cheat at cards if I
get the chance."
Wingrave turned away.
"You are a fool," he said, "and you won't suit me."
"When can I come?" Aynesworth asked.
"You can stay now," Wingrave answered. "Your salary will be four
hundred a year. You will live at my expense. The day you disobey an
order of mine, you go! No notice, mind!"
"Agreed," Aynesworth answered. "What should I do first? Send you a
tailor, I should think."
Wingrave nodded.
"I will give the afternoon to that sort of people," he said. "Here is
a list of the tradesmen I used to deal with. Kindly avoid them."
Aynesworth glanced at the slip of paper, and nodded.
"All out-of-date now," he remarked. "I'll be back to lunch."
A DELICATE MISSION
Aynesworth was back in less than an hour. He carried under his arm a
brown paper parcel, the strings of which he commenced at once to
untie. Wingrave, who had been engrossed in the contents of his deed
box, watched him with immovable face.
"The tailor will be here at two-thirty," he announced, "and the other
fellows will follow on at half an hour's interval.
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