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Page 8
"Damn!" said Ransford under his breath.
"Just so," agreed Bryce. "But--that's the sort of thing. Do
you want more? I can supply an unlimited quantity in the
piece if you like. But it's all according to sample."
"So--in addition to your other qualities," remarked Ransford,
"you're a gossiper?"
Bryce smiled slowly and shook his head.
"No," he replied. "I'm a listener. A good one, too. But do
you see my point? I say--there's no mystery about me. If
Miss Bewery will honour me with her hand, she'll get a man
whose antecedents will bear the strictest investigation."
"Are you inferring that hers won't?" demanded Ransford.
"I'm not inferring anything," said Bryce. "I am speaking for
myself, of myself. Pressing my own claim, if you like, on
you, the guardian. You might do much worse than support my
claims, Dr. Ransford."
"Claims, man!" retorted Ransford. "You've got no claims!
What are you talking about? Claims!"
"My pretensions, then," answered Bryce. "If there is a
mystery--as Wrychester people say there is--about Miss Bewery,
it would be safe with me. Whatever you may think, I'm a
thoroughly dependable man--when it's in my own interest."
"And--when it isn't?" asked Ransford. "What are you then?--as
you're so candid."
"I could be a very bad enemy," replied Bryce.
There was a moment's silence, during which the two men looked
attentively at each other.
"I've told you the truth," said Ransford at last. "Miss
Bewery flatly refuses to entertain any idea whatever of ever
marrying you. She earnestly hopes that that eventuality may
never be mentioned to her again. Will you give me your word
of honour to respect her wishes?"
"No!" answered Bryce. "I won't!"
"Why not?" asked Ransford, with a faint show of anger. "A
woman's wishes!"
"Because I may consider that I see signs of a changed mind in
her," said Bryce. "That's why."
"You'll never see any change of mind," declared Ransford.
"That's certain. Is that your fixed determination?"
"It is," answered Bryce. "I'm not the sort of man who is
easily repelled."
"Then, in that case," said Ransford, "we had better part
company." He rose from his desk, and going over to a safe
which stood in a corner, unlocked it and took some papers from
an inside drawer. He consulted one of these and turned to
Bryce. "You remember our agreement?" he continued. "Your
engagement was to be determined by a three months' notice on
either side, or, at my will, at any time by payment of three
months' salary?"
"Quite right," agreed Bryce. "I remember, of course."
"Then I'll give you a cheque for three months' salary--now,"
said Ransford, and sat down again at his desk. "That will
settle matters definitely--and, I hope, agreeably."
Bryce made no reply. He remained leaning against the table,
watching Ransford write the cheque. And when Ransford laid
the cheque down at the edge of the desk he made no movement
towards it.
"You must see," remarked Ransford, half apologetically, "that
it's the only thing I can do. I can't have any man who's not
--not welcome to her, to put it plainly--causing any annoyance
to my ward. I repeat, Bryce--you must see it!"
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