I do not
yet feel at liberty to describe our project, but it is ripening.
What I ask you is this. Will you trust us? Miss Sparkes, have I your
confidence?"
"It's all very well," threw in Gammon, before Polly could reply.
"But what if he drops down dead, as you say he might do? What about
his family then?"
"Gammon," replied the other with great solemnity, "I asked whether I
had your confidence. Do you, or do you not, believe me when I tell
you that Lord Polperro has long since executed a will by which not
only are his wife and his daughter amply--most amply--provided for,
but even more distant relatives on his wife's side?"
He gazed impressively at Miss Sparkes, whose eyes twinkled as she
turned with a jerk to Gammon.
"Look here, Greenacre," exclaimed the man of commerce, "let's be
business-like. I may trust you, or I may not. What I want to know
is, how long are we to wait before he comes to the shop down yonder
and behaves like an honest man? Just fix a date, and I'll make a
note of it."
"My dear Gammon--"
"Go ahead!"
"I cannot fix a date on my own responsibility.
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