"You going to sell Chowton!"
"Yes, Mr. Morton, I am."
"From all I have heard of you I wouldn't have believed it if anybody else had told me."
"It's a fact, Mr. Morton. There are three hundred and twenty acres. I put the rental at 30s. an acre. You know what you get, Mr. Morton, for the land that lies next to it. And I think twenty-eight years' purchase isn't more than it's worth. Those are my ideas as to price, Mr. Morton. There isn't a halfpenny owing on it—not in the way of mortgage."
"I dare say it's worth that."
"Up at auction I might get a turn more, Mr. Morton;—but those are my ideas at present."
John Morton, who was a man of business, went to work at once with his pencil and in two minutes had made out a total. "I don't know that I could put my hand on £14,000 even if I were minded to make the purchase."
"That needn't stand in the way, sir. Any part you please could lie on mortgage at 4½ per cent." Larry in the midst of his distress had certain clear ideas about business.
"This is a very serious proposition, Mr. Twentyman."
"Yes, indeed, sir."