Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/75

 "Very good, my lord," replied Ponderby, departing on his mission.

After his master had finished breakfast, Ponderby turned to the newspaper page that had aroused this unwonted exhibition of feeling, and had little difficulty in finding the item which he knew had displeased his lordship. The paragraph ran as follows:

"Mr. Peter Barnacle has promised to build a library in Stranleigh village, if the inhabitants will provide a site for the building. As all property in the vicinity belongs to Lord Stranleigh of Wychwood, there is little doubt that a beautiful plot of land will be offered by his lordship, so that advantage may be taken of this munificence."

Ponderby read the paragraph twice with slightly puckered brows, as if failing to understand why the extract should have caused annoyance. It seemed very good indeed of Mr. Barnacle to provide for the mental enjoyment of that delightful old English village, but instead of being thankful, Lord Stranleigh had gone to the extreme of saying "Dash it all!" As Ponderby carefully folded up the newspaper, and put it away, he murmured to himself:

"I wish I 'ad his money," but whether this referred to Mr. Barnacle or Lord Stranleigh we