One might as well think of breaking up the great Pyramid or Mount Popocatepetl! Too large an order even for an age of revolution!
“But you and Nina have nothing to quarrel about,” I expostulated—dishonestly.
He eyed me, again smiling sourly. “Oh, come, you know better than that!” his smile said, though his tongue didn’t. “And, besides, it would upset that idea that she and I talked over, and that rather particularly attracted me. I think I spoke to you about it? About Cragsfoot, you know.”
“Have you heard from Lady Dundrannan lately?” I inquired.
“No—not since I left the Villa.” He made this admission rather sulkily.
“Ah, then you’re not up-to-date! Cragsfoot’s all arranged. I’m to have it.” And I told him about the family arrangement.
Here I must confess to a bit of malicious triumph. The things envisaged itself to me as a fight between Rillington and Frost, and Rillington had won. Waldo’s old allegiance had resisted complete absorption. But my feeling was—at the moment—rather ungenerous; he was a good deal humbled already.
He took the disappointment very well. “Well, it was a fancy of mine, but of course you ought to have the first call, if Waldo sells out. So you’ll be living at Cragsfoot after Sir Paget’s death?” He appeared to ruminate over this prospect.
“Yes—and I hope to be there a good deal of my time, even before that.”
“With Nina and Waldo for your neighbors at Briarmount?”