Both men laughed.
‘But you have your own ideas?’ said Merton.
‘I had thought of 15,000l. and leaving England. He is a multimillionaire, the marquis.’
‘It is rather a pull,’ said Merton. ‘Now speaking as a professional man, and on honour, how is his lordship?’ Merton asked.
‘Speaking as a professional man, he may live a year; he cannot live eighteen months, I stake my reputation on that.’
Merton mused.
‘I’ll tell you what we can do,’ he said. ‘We can
guarantee the interest, at a fancy rate, say five per cent, during the marquis’s life, which you reckon as good for a year and a half, at most. The lump sum we can pay on his decease.’
The doctor mused in his turn.
‘I don’t like it. He may alter his will, and then—where do I come in?’