The Blotting Book | Page 8

allowed, did
not lack fine business qualities, but he was a little wanting in quickness.
Mills's welcome of him was abrupt.
"Pleased to see you," he said. "Cigar, drink? Sit down, won't you? What
is it?"
"I dropped in for a chat on my way home," said Mr. Taynton. "I have
been dining with Mrs. Assheton. A most pleasant evening. What a fine
delicate face she has."
Mills bit off the end of a cigar.
"I take it that you did not come in merely to discuss the delicacy of Mrs.
Assheton's face," he said.
"No, no, dear fellow; you are right to recall me. I too take it--I take it
that you have found time to go over to Falmer yesterday. How did you
find Sir Richard?"
"I found him well. I had a long talk with him."
"And you managed to convey something of those very painful facts
which you felt it was your duty to bring to his notice?" asked Mr.

Taynton.
Godfrey Mills laughed.
"I say, Taynton, is it really worth while keeping it up like this?" he
asked. "It really saves so much trouble to talk straight, as I propose to
do. I saw him, as I said, and I really managed remarkably well. I had
these admissions wrung from me, I assure you it is no less than that,
under promise of the most absolute secrecy. I told him young Assheton
was leading an idle, extravagant, and dissipated life. I said I had seen
him three nights ago in Piccadilly, not quite sober, in company with the
class of person to whom one does not refer in polite society. Will that
do?"
"Ah, I can easily imagine how painful you must have found--" began
Taynton.
But his partner interrupted.
"It was rather painful; you have spoken a true word in jest. I felt a brute,
I tell you. But, as I pointed out to you, something of the sort was
necessary."
Mr. Taynton suddenly dropped his slightly clerical manner.
"You have done excellently, my dear friend," he said. "And as you
pointed out to me, it was indeed necessary to do something of the sort. I
think by now, your revelations have already begun to take effect. Yes, I
think I will take a little brandy and soda. Thank you very much."
He got up with greater briskness than he had hitherto shown.
"And you are none too soon," he said. "Morris, poor Morris, such a
handsome fellow, confided to me this evening that he was in love with
Miss Templeton. He is very much in earnest."
"And why do you think my interview has met with some success?"
asked Mills.

"Well, it is only a conjecture, but when Morris asked if he might call
any time to-morrow, Miss Templeton (who was also dining with Mrs.
Assheton) said that she and her mother would be out all day and not get
home till late. It does not strike me as being too fanciful to see in that
some little trace perhaps of your handiwork."
"Yes, that looks like me," said Mills shortly.
Mr. Taynton took a meditative sip at his brandy and soda.
"My evening also has not been altogether wasted," he said. "I played
what for me was a bold stroke, for as you know, my dear fellow, I
prefer to leave to your nimble and penetrating mind things that want
dash and boldness. But to-night, yes, I was warmed with that wonderful
port and was bold."
"What did you do?" asked Mills.
"Well, I asked, I almost implored dear Morris to give me two or three
hours to-morrow and go through all the books, and satisfy himself
everything is in order, and his investments well looked after. I told him
also that the original £30,000 of his had, owing to judicious
management, become £40,000. You see, that is unfortunately a thing
past praying for. It is so indubitably clear from the earlier ledgers--"
"But the port must indeed have warmed you," said Mills quickly. "Why,
it was madness! What if he had consented?"
Mr. Taynton smiled.
"Ah, well, I in my slow synthetic manner had made up my mind that it
was really quite impossible that he should consent to go into the books
and vouchers. To begin with, he has a new motor car, and every hour
spent away from that car just now is to his mind an hour wasted. Also, I
know him well. I knew that he would never consent to spend several
hours over ledgers. Finally, even if he had, though I knew from what I
know of him not that he would not but that he could not, I could have--I
could have managed something. You see, he knows nothing whatever

about business or investments."
Mills shook his head.