‘But he hasn’t got it yet. It lies buried in the earth in Borneo.’
‘Yes; it consists of mines, I know. But, of course, the fortune was realisable as soon as the Privy Council gave their decision.’
‘Well, it hasn’t been realised.’
‘But the decision was given a week ago. Do you mean to say it has been neglected all this time?’
‘“Neglected” is a piece of impertinence, Mr. Huxtable.’
‘A week’s income lost means something like 10,000l.’
‘How dare you come to me—me, who has been toiling night and day in the Prince’s interest—in this authoritative, censorious way—I, who am old enough to be your grandfather—talking of neglect?’
‘You regard it as an aspersion? Well, and what are the results of all your labour?’
‘I have secured him justice.’
‘Justice is a matter of law, Mr. Cato: the Privy Council has attended to that. If you were incapable of realising his fortune yourself, why not have applied to some big financier—Baron Blumenstrauss, for instance?’