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Page 55
"Deceitful?" she asked.
"I couldn't say that," replied Eldrick. "It wouldn't be true if I said
so. I think he's possibilities of strategy in him. But so far as we're
concerned, we found him hardworking, energetic, truthful, dependable and
honest, and absolutely to be trusted in money matters. He's had many and
many a thousand pounds of ours through his hands."
"I believe you're unaware that my mother, for some reason or other,
unknown to me, has put him in charge of her affairs?" asked Nesta.
"Yes--Mr. Collingwood told me so," answered Eldrick. "So, too, did your
own solicitor, Mr. Robson--who's very angry about it."
"And you?" she said, putting a direct question. "What do you think? Do
please, tell me!"
"It's difficult to say, Miss Mallathorpe," replied Eldrick, with a smile
and a shake of the head. "If your mother--who, of course, is quite
competent to decide for herself--wishes to have somebody to look after
her affairs, I don't see what objection can be taken to her procedure.
And if she chooses to put Linford Pratt in that position--why not? As I
tell you, I, as his last--and only--employer, am quite convinced of his
abilities and probity. I suppose that as your mother's agent, he'll
supervise her property, collect money due to her, advise her in
investments, and so on. Well, I should say--personally, mind--he's quite
competent to do all that, and that he'll do it honestly, I should
certainly say so."
"But--why should he do it at all?" asked Nesta.
Eldrick waved his hands.
"Ah!" he exclaimed. "Now you ask me a very different question! But--I
understand--in fact, I know--that Pratt turns out to be a relation of
yours--distant, but it's there. Perhaps your mother--who, of course, is
much better off since your brother's sad death--is desirous of
benefiting Pratt--as a relation."
"Do you advise anything?" asked Nesta.
"Well, you know, Miss Mallathorpe," replied Eldrick, smiling. "I'm not
your legal adviser. What about Mr. Robson?"
"Mr. Robson is so very angry about all this--with my mother," said
Nesta, "that I don't even want to ask his advice. What I really do want
is the advice, counsel, of somebody--perhaps more as a friend than as a
solicitor."
"Delighted to give you any help I can--either professionally or as a
friend," exclaimed Eldrick. "But--let me suggest something. And first of
all--is there anything--something--in all this that you haven't told to
anybody yet?"
"Yes--much!" she answered. "A great deal!"
"Then," said Eldrick, "let me advise a certain counsel. Two heads are
better than one. Let me ask Mr. Collingwood to come here."
He was watching his visitor narrowly as he said this, and he saw a faint
rise of colour in her cheeks. But for the moment she did not answer, and
Eldrick saw that she was thinking.
"I can get him across from his chambers in a few minutes," he said.
"He's sure to be in just now."
"Can I have a few minutes to decide?" asked Nesta.
Eldrick jumped up.
"Of course!" he said. "I'll leave you a while. It so happens I want to
see my partner, I'll go up to his room, and return to you presently."
Nesta, left alone, gave herself up to deep thought, and to a careful
reckoning of her position. She was longing to confide in some
trustworthy person or persons, for Pratt's revelations had plunged her
into a maze of perplexity. But her difficulties were many. First of all,
she would have to tell all about the terrible charge brought by Pratt
against her mother. Then about the second which he professed to--or
probably did--hold. What sort of a secret could it be? And supposing her
advisers suggested strong measures against Pratt--what then, about the
danger to her mother, in a twofold direction?
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