“I am tied down, as you know, in the matter of my pocket-money, and can’t well spare it out of my present allowance. I want the trustees to give me an extra allowance.”
“In other words, you want your trustees to keep Mr Robert Ratman at the rate of £250 a year. I shall agree to that the day that he satisfies me he is Roger Ingleton.”
“I expected you would refuse. I must ask Captain Oliphant.”
“I’m afraid he will require my sanction to any such arrangement.”
“What! Do you mean to say that I am at your mercy in a matter like this?”
“I fear that is unhappily the case. I can resolve the matter by resigning my tutorship.”
Had it come to that? Roger glanced up with a scared look which for the moment clouded out the vexation in his face.
“Excuse me, Armstrong. All this worry is bad for my temper. I’m afraid I lost it.”
“I can sympathise,” said the tutor, “for I have lost mine. Good night.”