Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/110

 strangely tolerant, it permits the possessor to say things that would otherwise not be tolerated. In short, it does quite a lot of things. No, I have never expected your wealth, nor do I want it. Your advice, like greatness, is thrust upon me; but I prefer to meet you on equal terms."

For a moment there was a strange look in Lady Drewitt's eyes, as she stared fixedly at her nephew.

"You're a fool, Richard," she said with decision. "You always were a fool; but"

"I am at least an honest fool. I must have another one of those cream cakes," he added. "You see a man with only four weeks of social life can eat anything. He hasn't to think of his waist-measurement."

Lady Drewitt regarded him with a puzzled expression.

"I shall have to see Drewitt about you," she announced.

"He is too fully occupied with his own concerns. When we discussed the reversionary interest in his heiresses, he asked me what I had to give in return, and I had to confess that all I possessed was a temperament. No woman wants a husband with a temperament, at least, she's not prepared to pay for it."

"I shall speak to your cousin Edward Seymour," announced Lady Drewitt with decision.

"I assure you it will be of no use, Aunt Caroline. With that long fair moustache of his, Edward always reminds me of a dissipated and diminutive