‘Yes; I know him,’ ejaculated M‘Dum abruptly.
‘And I wish,’ continued Tom, ‘to apply for a secretaryship which, as I see by an advertisement in the Morning Post, is vacant.’
‘Well, sit down,’ said M‘Dum, as he threw himself into the most comfortable chair in the room; ‘and we will talk the matter over.’ And he proceeded to help himself to a stiff glass of whisky from a decanter that stood upon a table at his side.
‘I think that I possess all the necessary qualifications,’ began Tom; ‘but of that you must be the judge. Perhaps this letter from Mr Fegan will give you as much information as I can,’ and he handed a sealed missive to the Steward.
M‘Dum took it, and having opened it, read aloud:
‘My dear Mr M‘Dum—My friend Mr Checkstone has seen in the paper that a secretary is wanted at Balquhalloch. He is a young man of means, family, good education, and address; he is, moreover, a sociable companion; and you may in all matters rely upon his discretion. I therefore highly recommend him to you. I take advantage of his journey to Scotland to send to you half-a-dozen boxes of very prime cigars; and remain yours very faithfully,
George Fegan.’
‘And here are the cigars,’ added Tom, pointing to a package which he had brought in with him.
Cigars were Mr M‘Dum’s second weakness. His first was good whisky. In a moment his demeanour, which up to that point had been by no means friendly, altered.
‘Good!’ he exclaimed. ‘The letter, so far as it goes, is perfectly satisfactory, Mr Checkstone.—Now, let us look at the matter as men of business. The fact is that Miss Stuart—the Princess Henrietta Maria as we call her here—wants a well-educated amanuensis. I manage her estates and her household, but—and I needn’t attempt to disguise it—my education has been neglected. I am not good at letter-writing. Still, I have worked my way gradually up into my present position, and I am not disposed to imperil it. The man who comes here must be my ally. He will be paid four hundred a year, and will keep his place as long as he likes, provided that he gets on well with me. The Princess is not exacting, although she is eccentric. I do not suppose, indeed, that the work will be hard; and as there is plenty of good shooting and fishing down here, the life is very pleasant. I may tell you that Mr Fegan has already telegraphed to me announcing your visit, and that I am upon the whole prepared to engage you.’