“‘Have you thought about what I said?’
“God knows I had not slept for thinking of it.
“‘Yes, I have; and I will take £380 for it, and be your tenant for three, five, or seven years. I am going to leave my present house.’
“‘I will give you £330,’ he said.
“‘Very well, I will take that. You know it is usual to pay a deposit?’
“‘Oh, yes; how much do you want? I have brought a bank cheque.’
“‘£150 would be enough.’
“‘You can have more—say £200.’
“‘Very well, that will do.’
“‘He filled up the cheque for the last-mentioned amount, and we parted for the time. I was in the highest spirits. My difficulties had vanished. With this cheque I could command all the remaining materials that I wanted. I went to Mr. Cubitt’s office, got the boards for the floor, and everything else, and set the carpenters to work, early and late. At last it was finished. Before this, however, I took ground for two more houses, which Mr. Alsop also bought. The first one I lived in myself for seven years. This was the very man who had given me in charge nine months before.