Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/102

 had gone so far I couldn't write to Barnacle and tell him the deal was off. I knew that any appeal to you would be futile, because reasoning doesn't appeal to a brain the calibre of yours."

"I quite understand. I think the phrase 'drivelling idiot' would comprise all the epithets you have hurled at me, so we'll let it go at that. Cut the cackle, and come to the 'osses. Common sense having no effect on this idiot, what did you do?"

"I allowed an old fool to build the library, and put aside the money of the young fool until this was done, and I could safely return it to him."

"Return it!" cried Stranleigh in amazement.

"What else?" Wilson drew a note-book from his inside pocket, extracted a cheque, and tossed the document over to Stranleigh, who opened it in dazed fashion, and saw it was payable to his order for five thousand and seventy-five pounds.

"Why the seventy-five pounds?" he asked.

"Interest for three months at six per cent. In most of your investments you get only four, you know."

"In handing me a cheque which doubtless will be returned dishonoured, you hope to gain time, and so, as we used to say at school, make a bunk for it to the Continent, You are putting yourself