Mangan's way. There was no
need for the Major to think there was any obligation, he might call it
a mutual advantage, if he liked, anyhow, why shouldn't the money go
where it was wanted? The security was all right.
"Oh yes," says Dick, "that's right enough, and whenever I can come to
terms with the tenants--"
"No hurry!" the Big Doctor would answer; "five per cent. is good
enough for me!"
The Doctor, alone of all Dick's friends, sympathised with Major
Talbot-Lowry in the matter of the tenants, and he condemned the
conduct of his own son, Barty, as heartily as did Dick that of his
nephew, in their dealings with the Coppinger estate.
"'Tis impossible to hold these young fellows," he said, severely,
while he and Dick strolled slowly round the weedy flower garden of
Mount Music, one sunny August afternoon, four years after Larry's
coming of age; "You may be sure that I pointed out to Barty that he
and Larry were playing the deuce with you over the sale, but what
could I do? After all, Barty had to obey the orders he got from his
boss!"
"I know, I know," responded Dick. "My dear fellow, I don't blame
_you_, my own cousin's a different pair of shoes! Richard may
fight it out with the tenants when I'm gone. He'll have to marry
money. Why, my God! If I sold at these fellows' price, the property
would hardly clear itself! At least," Dick cleared his throat and
picked himself up with a guilty jerk, as does a horse who stumbles
from carelessness, "at least, it would cover the charges, and--and the
mortgages of course--but not much more--"
Dr.
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