The Library.
The next day Sir Joseph Graybrooke, Sir Joseph's lawyer, Mr. Dicas
(highly respectable and immensely rich), and Richard Turlington were
assembled in the library at Muswell Hill, to discuss the question of
Natalie's marriage settlement.
After the usual preliminary phrases had been exchanged, Sir Joseph
showed some hesitation in openly approaching the question which the
little party of three had met to debate. He avoided his lawyer's eye;
and he looked at Turlington rather uneasily.
"Richard," he began at last, "when I spoke to you about your marriage,
on board the yacht, I said I would give my daughter--" Either his
courage or his breath failed him at that point. He was obliged to wait a
moment before he could go on.
"I said I would give my daughter half my fortune on her marriage," he
resumed. "Forgive me, Richard. I can't do it!"
Mr. Dicas, waiting for his instructions, laid down his pen and looked at
Sir Joseph's son-in-law elect. What would Mr. Turlington say?
He said nothing. Sitting opposite the window, he rose when Sir Joseph
spoke, and placed himself at the other side of the table, with his back
to the light.
Pages:
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112