"I thought you were in London?" he said.
"Which shows how very little you trouble yourself about the concerns of your neighbours," answered Major Vernon, "for if you had condescended to inquire about the movements of your humble friend, you would have been told that he had bought a comfortable little property in the neighbourhood, and settled down to do the respectable country gentleman for the remainder of his natural life—always supposing that the liberality of his honoured friend enables him to do the thing decently."
"Do you mean to say that you have bought property in this neighbourhood?"
"Yes! I am leasehold proprietor of Woodbine Cottage, near Lisford and Shorncliffe."
"And you mean to settle in Warwickshire?"
"I do."
Henry Dunbar smiled to himself as his friend said this.
"You're welcome to do so," he said, "as far as I am concerned."
The Major looked at him sharply.
"Your sentiments are liberality itself, my dear friend. But I must respectfully remind you that the expenses attendant upon taking possession of my humble abode have been very heavy. In plain English, the two thou' which you so liberally advanced as the first instalment of future bounties, has melted like snow in a rapid thaw. I want another two thou', friend of my youth and patron of my later years. What's a thousand or so, more or less, to the senior partner in the house of D., D., and B.? Make it two five this time, and your petitioner will ever pray, &c. &c. &c. Make it two five, Prince of Maudesley!"