"Your name--the name of your house will suffer----" Sir Denzil shedded the prospect with a shrug.
"Who set you on this business, Mr. Eager?" he asked, with a touch of acidity.
"God."
"Ah!"--snuffing with extreme deliberation. "Now we approach debatable ground."
"No, sir. We stand on the only ground that offers sound footing."
"Well, well! I suppose some people still believe such things."
"Fortunately, yes. Now about the boys. May I take them in hand?"
Sir Denzil regarded him thoughtfully while he shook his snuff box gently and prepared another pinch.
"On conditions, possibly yes," he said at last.
"And the conditions?"