"I see that, but I fail to see what benefit you obtain from it, and I don't think you're the man to work for nothing."
"You're perfectly right," he replied calmly, "but I'm going to make myself Reginald's right hand, and when he comes in for the property I can help him to look after the estate."
"And ruin him."
"I won't ruin him. Why should I want to ruin my own son?"
"Bah! don't talk like that to me."
"Oh well, if you disbelieve in interest, I'll put it another way. Why should I kill the goose with the golden eggs?"
"Yes, that's more like it," she said with a sneer, "I think your plan is an admirable one, but there's one obstacle."
"What is it?"
"Reginald is an honourable man, and won't accept any property gained by fraud."
Beaumont sighed in a resigned manner, apparently hopeless of explaining matters clearly to this painfully obstinate woman.