“He's going over ground that I know very well,” said Mr. Longcluse. “Happy man! He can't quite break away from his business, though, I daresay.”
“He never tells us where a letter will find him, and the consequence is his holidays are never spoiled.”
“Not a bad plan, Mr. Blount. Won't he visit the Paris Exhibition?”
“I rather think not.”
“Can I do anything for you, Mr. Blount?”
“Well, Mr. Longcluse, I just called to ask you a question. I have been invited to take part in arranging a little matter which I take an interest in, because it affects the Arden estates.”
“Is Sir Richard Arden interested in it?” inquired Mr. Longcluse, gently and coldly.
“Yes, I rather fancy he would be benefited.”
“I have had a good deal of unpleasantness, and, I might add, a great deal of ingratitude from that quarter, and I have made up my mind never again to have anything to do with him or his affairs. I have no unpleasant feeling, you understand; no resentment; there is nothing, of course, he could say or do that could in the least affect me. It is simply that, having coolly reviewed his conduct, I have quite made up my mind to aid in nothing in which he has act, part, or interest.”
“It was not directly, but simply as a surety——”