"I make no doubt you travelled back as quickly as possible—come in, sir."
He led the lawyer into the room and shut the door.
"Sit down, Warburton—sit down. You—you found my brother?"
Again Warburton bowed.
"I had the felicity of seeing his lordship, sir."
"He was well? In good spirits? You thought him changed—yes? Aged perhaps, or—"
"His lordship was not greatly changed, sir."
Richard almost stamped in his impatience.
"Come, Warburton, come! Tell me everything. What did he say? Will he take the revenues? Will he—"
"His lordship, sir, was reluctant to take anything, but upon maturer consideration, he—ah—consented to accept his elder son's portion. The revenues of the estate he begs you will make use of."