“Well, my dear?” he asked. “What do you say? Shall we let the place and clear out?”
“I’ve given you my offer,” I interposed, with a careless air. “My friend commissioned me to find him a quiet place at once, and I am prepared to pay more than its worth because of my own family associations with the place.”
“Well, we have the other gentleman, you know,” insisted the woman.
“It’s not at all certain if he’ll take it,” I said. “And if he does, he won’t pay so much as I offer.”
The man was ready to clinch the bargain, but the woman was one of those scrupulously honest bodies who hesitated to break her word.
They talked together for a few moments out in the hall, while I awaited their decision.
It was in my favour, and within half an hour the necessary preliminaries were executed, agreements were written out and signed, and Mr. Kenway had in his pocket my cheque for sixty pounds, in exchange for which I held his lease and his agreement handing the place over to my care, subject, of course, to the landlord’s approval.
In one instance, at least, I had got the better of Mr. Purvis, and, what was more to the point, I had obtained his address.
CHAPTER XVI
MRS. GRAHAM’S VISITOR
When I returned to town that same evening and told Staffurth he became wildly excited.