And Marvin Mahan was riding a mule to Sussex. He bore the unimportant news that Chase Mahan would pay a dollar forty an acre for something like half a million acres, which he intended to sell to Asher Ferry before the buyer knew who was behind the deal.
Chapter 57. Lanthanum
Once on shore at Southampton he secured telephonic communication with the baron’s secretary. He was informed that he could be received in about three hours, which would give his lordship’s solicitors time to motor down from London.
The appointment being made, he searched out a bookshop and bought the volume which he had promised to buy. He became so interested that he read it all the way in the motor, letting the fields of Sussex go unobserved.
He closed it only when his car turned in to a fine old park where he caught a glimpse of fallow deer and remembered poor Sempronia. The house was much older than the title, and had a moat. He stepped from the car and told his driver to wait. He turned to mount the first flight up the terrace, and noted a fine figure of a man coming down.
“Why, Captain Mahan!”
“Why, Mr. Brinkerhoff!”
The British swell was only the Chicago lawyer. There was not a better lawyer or a more expensive one.
“Beautiful old place, captain.”
“Wonderful, Mr. Brinkerhoff. I’m sorry I didn’t come before.”