“Never mind that. I want some now.”
“But you know that Sir Vernon, through Prinsep, gave me positive instructions that I should only give you money on one condition.”
“Isn’t the position a bit different now, Woodman? I mean since what happened last week.”
Woodman paused a moment. “There is a difference,” he said, “but clearly I cannot advance you money without authority from Sir Vernon, and he is far too ill to be troubled about such things at present.”
“I don’t want you to trouble him. But I should have thought that, in the new circumstances, you would make no difficulty about advancing me a loan. I want £10,000 to clear off debts, and a few thousands to get along with for the present.”
“My dear fellow, do you think I carry ten thousand pounds loose in my pocket?”
“I think you could get me an advance of more than that amount if you chose.”
“But Sir Vernon may alter his will.”
These words of Woodman’s brought great comfort to Walter Brooklyn’s heart. They proved at least that, as the will stood, he would come in for a considerable sum on his brother’s death. He was emboldened to make a definite proposal.
“Look here, Woodman, you know what is in the will. I want you to advance me twenty thousand pounds at once on the strength of my expectations under it. There’s no risk, practically; what there is, I’m prepared to pay for. If you let me have twenty thousand now, you shall have thirty thousand when Sir Vernon dies.”