Page:Edgar Jepson--the four philanthropists.djvu/191

Rh "Well, as long as it's done somehow, I suppose I ought to be content; but I should have liked it painful," he said, with grumbling vindictiveness.

I had been right. There was no gross sentimentality about Marmaduke.

"I don't say for a moment that it will be murder; all that is to be done is to put you into possession of seven thousand a year. But of course the firm which does this kind of work is not particular how it secures its results, and it might be murder. It's a serious matter. Is your mind quite made up?"

"Quite made up!" he said firmly. "And, what's more, if you work it for me I shall consider myself under the deepest obligation to you."

"Oh, it's not much trouble to me," I said. "You had better give me a document agreeing to pay me £5,000 whenever you come into your seven thousand a year in consideration of a loan of £4,000, which I need scarcely say I do not really lend you now." His face fell, and he said: "I'm afraid I can't do that, for there is a clause in my father's will by which I forfeit my inheritance if I anticipate any part of it by post-obits, or anything of that kind."

"The deuce there is! I was wondering how it was you hadn't kept out of want by raising