"Why--! And will he be
coming to Black Hill, sir?"
"Yes. Next week. We have," said Mr. Touris, and though he tried he
could not keep the saturnine out of his voice--"we have some things to
talk over."
As he spoke he moved from before the summer-house into a cross-path,
and the others followed him and his Company magnate. The Edinburgh
lawyer and Glenfernie found themselves together. The former lagged a
step and held the younger man back with him; he dropped his voice
"I've not been three hours in the house. I've had no talk with Mr.
Touris. What's all this about? I know that you and his nephew are as
close as brothers--not that brothers are always close!"
"He writes only that he is tired of martial life. He has the soldier
in him, but he has much besides. That 'much besides' often steps in to
change a man's profession."
"Well, I hope you'll persuade him to see the old gunpowder very damp!
I remember that, as a very young man, he talked imprudently. But he
has been," said the lawyer, "far and wide since those days."
"Yes, far and wide."
Mr. Wotherspoon with a long forefinger turned a crimson rose seen in
profile full toward him. "I met him--once--when I was in London a year
ago. I had not seen him for years." He let the rose swing back. "He
has a magnificence! Do you know I study a good deal? They say that so
do you.
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