The Blotting Book | Page 5

a most proper alliance--heirs should always marry
heiresses. It"--Mr. Taynton drank off the rest of his port--"it keeps
properties together."
Hot blood again dictated to Morris: it seemed dreadful to him that any
thought of money or of property could be mentioned in the same breath
as that which he longed for. He rose again as abruptly and violently as
he had sat down.
"Well, let's play billiards," he said. "I--I don't think you understand a bit.
You can't, in fact."
Mr. Taynton stroked the tablecloth for a moment with a plump white
forefinger.
"Crabbed age and youth," he remarked. "But crabbed age makes an
appeal to youth, if youth will kindly call to mind what crabbed age
referred to some five minutes ago. In other words, will you, or will you
not, Morris, spend a very dry three hours at my office, looking into the
account of my stewardship? There was thirty thousand pounds, and
there now is--or should we say 'are'--forty. It will take you not less than
two hours, and not more than three. But since my stewardship may
come to an end, as I said, any day, I should, not for my own sake, but
for yours, wish you to see what we have done for you, and--I own this
would be a certain private gratification to me--to learn that you thought
that the trust your dear father reposed in us was not misplaced."
There was something about these simple words which touched Morris.
For the moment he became almost businesslike. Mr. Taynton had been,
as he knew, a friend of his father's, and, as he had said, he had been
steward of his own affairs for twenty years. But that reflection banished
the businesslike view.
"Oh, but two hours is a fearful time," he said. "You have told me the
facts, and they entirely satisfy me. And I want to be out all day
to-morrow, as I am only here till the day after. But I shall be down
again next week. Let us go into it all then. Not that there is the slightest
use in going into anything. And when, Mr. Taynton, I become steward

of my own affairs, you may be quite certain that I shall beg you to
continue looking after them. Why you gained me ten thousand pounds
in these twenty years--I wonder what there would have been to my
credit now if I had looked after things myself. But since we are on the
subject I should like just this once to assure you of my great gratitude
to you, for all you have done. And I ask you, if you will, to look after
my affairs in the future with the same completeness as you have always
done. My father's will does not prevent that, does it?"
Mr. Taynton looked at the young fellow with affection.
"Dear Morris," he said gaily, "we lawyers and solicitors are always
supposed to be sharks, but personally I am not such a shark as that. Are
you aware that I am paid £200 a year for my stewardship, which you
are entitled to assume for yourself on your marriage, though of course
its continuance in my hands is not forbidden in your father's will? You
are quite competent to look after your affairs yourself; it is ridiculous
for you to continue to pay me this sum. But I thank you from the
bottom of my heart for your confidence in me."
A very close observer might have seen that behind Mr. Taynton's kind
gay eyes there was sitting a personality, so to speak, that, as his mouth
framed these words, was watching Morris rather narrowly and
anxiously. But the moment Morris spoke this silent secret watcher
popped back again out of sight.
"Well then I ask you as a personal favour," said he, "to continue being
my steward. Why, it's good business for me, isn't it? In twenty years
you make me ten thousand pounds, and I only pay you £200 a year for
it. Please be kind, Mr. Taynton, and continue making me rich. Oh, I'm a
jolly hard-headed chap really; I know that it is to my advantage."
Mr. Taynton considered this a moment, playing with his wine glass.
Then he looked up quickly.
"Yes, Morris, I will with pleasure do as you ask me," he said.
"Right oh. Thanks awfully. Do come and play billiards."

Morris was in amazing luck that night, and if, as he said, he had been
playing a lot lately, the advantage of his practice was seen chiefly in the
hideous certainty of his flukes, and the game (though he received
twenty-five) left Mr. Taynton half a crown the poorer. Then the winner
whirled his guest upstairs again to talk to his mother while he himself
went