“Does it seriously affect the matter?” he asked at last, “my refusing the beastly money?”
Nevil got up slowly and shook himself.
“It affects Patricia’s guardians not one bit. It’s not as if it were that, or nothing.”
“No, I’ve enough. Of course if I hadn’t I might feel differently about it. I can keep her in comfort, Nevil.”
Nevil got up deliberately and altered the position of a bronze on the high mantelshelf.
“It’s not Patricia I’m thinking about,” he said in his slow way, “but hang it all, you belong to us, Christopher. We must think of you! Have you counted the risks?”
“I probably understand them better than anyone.”
“Then I dismiss further responsibility. I’m really 338 more pleased than I can say, Christopher. Poor little Patricia! What fortune for her!”
“You clearly understand there won’t be any fortune?” persisted the other bluntly.
“Oh, Peter’s fortune? Of course not. Where’s the obligation? I’ll go and tell Renata.”