"Oh, I hope you don't think that insubordination is part of a gentleman's bringing up?"
"It hadn't ought to be; but it's best to be clear."
"Clearly, then, I can undertake to obey your orders; and I would only warn you to give them carefully, because I shall carry them out to the letter. If you ordered me to make a bonfire of your bank-notes, I should burn 'em all without mercy."
Mr. Bragg laughed his quiet, inward laugh. There was something in the conception of himself ordering bank-notes to be burned, which keenly touched his not very lively sense of the ludicrous.
"All right," said he. "I'll take that risk."
"Then am I to conclude—may I hope that you will engage me?" asked Owen, with nervous eagerness.
"Why, I shall ask leave to turn it over in my mind a little longer. But I'll undertake not to keep you waiting beyond to-morrow morning. You see, if I do make an offer, it's best you should have it in writing. And sim'larly, if you accept it, I ought to have that in writing."
"Thank you. Then I need not intrude longer on your time."
"No intrusion at all, Mr. Rivers. Good morning to you."
Owen turned round at the door, and coming back to the writing-table, said, "May I ask you to keep my application to yourself for the present?"