“My dear Mr. Peter” (Mr. Blagden heard that formal familiarity of Harrington with a double recognition—of old days, and of the past fevered months), “my dear Mr. Peter, if the interests involved were not so very large, I should advise an arrangement. But seeing what those interests are” (and, he added to himself, the considerable fees that can be milked out of them), “it is worth your while to fight. There can be no question about the profit on Touaregs. No hurt was suffered there. Nor of the purchase and sale of land; you were free to transact it under any trade name. The only doubtful ground is the Rotor affair.”
“I have no anxiety to go on with that,” said Mr. Blagden wearily. “None at all.”
“My dear sir,” said Mr. Wilkins, shocked, “do consider what you are saying! Two millions! More than two millions!”
“I assure you I mean it,” said Mr. Blagden sincerely and simply. “What on earth does a man want with more than sixty thousand a year? I’ve got that now, apart from all this last detestable nonsense.”
The image of Mr. Trefusis rose in his mind and nauseated him; for the morbid mood of those last days remained as a strong impression, although he was now back again in his right mind. Doubtless had he met the Great Organizer again in his new condition he would have respected him as highly as did, and still does, all our business world. But he had met him in days of mental torture and warping, and the picture was distorted.
“Why, bless you, Mr. Wilkins,” went on Mr. Blagden, with more assurance than he would have shown before the older man in his former days of poverty, “all I want is peace. And if a man can’t have leisure on £60,000 a year....”
“Less taxes,” broke in Mr. Wilkins anxiously. “Less taxes, my dear Mr. Peter!”
“Yes, I know,” said Mr. Blagden wearily. “But if a man cannot have leisure on, say, £30,000 pounds a year, he’s not likely to get it. What do I want with another quarter million or so of income?”
Mr. Wilkins’ age did not impair his rapidity of decision and his power for an immediate change of front; for here habit was strong. He at once went off upon a new tack.
“Have you considered, Mr. Peter,” he said solemnly, and Mr. Blagden was back again in his twenty-first year, listening to the solemn admonitions of the Family Lawyer in the old study at home, “have you considered what the effect will be upon your whole position? What people will say of your motives, Mr. Peter?” And here he leaned forward and tapped Mr. Blagden on the knee. “The Paddenham Site purchase was made under that other name also. Remember that! No doubt they won’t go into it, but remember what it means! If you let them take it into court it will make you talked about, that’s true; but it may clear you.”