“No,” she said, “I cannot regard this as a loss in the presence of one so much greater. Thank you very much, Mr Trevithick, for all that you have done; and now, pray, give me some advice as to what to do with this money.”
“Good, my dear madam, and that I am sure you will do.”
“I mean as to its investment.”
“To be sure. I was coming to that, for the sooner this heavy amount is out of your hands the more comfortable you will be.”
“I said something like this to my cousin a little while back, Mr Trevithick,” said Mary sharply. “Pray give her some better advice than that.”
The solicitor looked disconcerted, but he recovered himself.
“Well, Miss Gartram, I have plenty of clients who want money, and would agree to pay five per centum; but, excuse me, you don’t want to make money, and, as your father’s trusted legal adviser, I shall give his daughter the most valuable advice I can.”
“And what is that, Mr Trevithick?”
“Let me at once invest all this money for you in Consols. Only two and a half now, but there will be no fluctuations, no heavy dividend one year, nothing at all the next, and some day perhaps failure. It is very poor advice, perhaps, but safe as the Bank of England.”
“Take the necessary steps at once, Mr Trevithick,” said Claude decisively.