Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/104

 Again Stranleigh laughed.

"Speaking of the guilefulness of cities," he said, "I have secured a two-thirds majority on the board controlling the lovely scarlet building you opened to-day. The first act will be to inaugurate an industrial school in the new edifice, and thus the land on which it stands will revert to me. Meanwhile, I shall build, with the good grey stone of our quarries, a library whose architecture will be in keeping with the village and the old church. I shall erect it facing High Street, and its grounds shall run down to the little rivulet, for I think the murmur of water is a pleasant sound to accompany the reading of a book. I shall then tear down and cart away your red-brick abomination. I'll pay back to Barnacle his three thousand pounds with interest at ten per cent."

"All right," said Wilson, rising. "I cared nothing about the library from the beginning, except as a chance for making money. Meanwhile, here's another document to complete our transaction," and with that he handed Stranleigh his written resignation.

"Accepted," said Stranleigh, laughing. "When you go out through the front door, mind the step, Good-night."