“No need to do that,” replied Sherry, in a large-minded way. “Dare say we may take it into our heads to remove there one day, and in the meantime there’s my mother to be thought of. Got to have somewhere to stay when she comes to town, after all.”
Mr Stoke, who was of the opinion that the dowager’s handsome jointure was more than sufficient to enable her to buy a house of her own, looked as disapproving as he dared, and said: “Your lordship can scarcely have considered the expense of maintaining a fourth establishment.”
“Dash it, I’ve only got two places! Oh, you’re thinking of that little hunting-box you procured for me in Leicestershire, are you? I don’t count that.”
“Oh!” said Mr Stoke rather faintly.
“I’m a rich man, aren’t I?” demanded Sherry, stretching his long legs out before him.
“Your lordship is a very rich man, but — ”
“Of course I am! And that reminds me, we must settle a few of my debts. Stupid sort of a business, but I may as well be beforehand with the world, at any rate to start with.”
“That, my lord, was what I had in mind,” said Mr Stoke. “Your lordship was good enough to entrust me with the task of ascertaining the extent of your lordship’s obligations, and I fear that the sum — ”
“Badly dipped, am I? Oh, well, you’d best sell me out of the Funds, and be done with it! No need to pull a long face: it’s my money, damn it all! But first I must have a house I can live in.”
Mr Stoke knew his lordship too well to argue with him when it was plain, from the obstinate look round his mouth, that he had made up his mind. The best he could hope for was to be able to persuade Sherry into hiring instead of buying a house, and with this end in view he began to discuss the size of the proposed establishment, its locality, and the most expeditious way of acquiring it. Hero soon lost interest in the conversation, and left her chair to go and look out of the window into the busy street. When the Viscount at last rose to go she was employed in drawing faces on the dusty window-panes.