"
Piers said nothing, and looked away to hide his smile of pleasure.
"I asked you to come," were his next words, "to show you a letter I
have had from John Jacks' solicitors."
Glancing at him with surprise, Olga took the letter he held out, and
read it. In this communication, Piers Otway was informed that the
will of the late Mr. Jacks bequeathed to him the capital which the
testator had invested in the firm of Moncharmont & Co., and the
share in the business which it represented.
"This is important to you," said the girl, after reflecting for a
moment, her eyes down.
"Yes, it is important," Piers answered, in a voice not quite under
control. "It means that, if I choose, I can live without working at
the business. Just live; no more, at present, though it may mean
more in the future. Things have gone well with us, for a beginning;
much better than I, at all events, expected. What I should like to
do, now, would be to find a man to take my place in London. I know
someone who, just possibly, might be willing--a man at Liverpool."
"Isn't it a risk?" said Olga, regarding him with shamefaced anxiety.
"I don't think so. If _I_ could do so well, almost an real man of
business would be sure to do better. Moncharmont, you know, is the
indispensable member of the firm."
"And--what would you do? Go abroad, I suppose?"
"For a time, at all events. Possibly to Russia--I have a purpose
--too vague to speak of yet--I should frighten myself if I spoke
of it.
Pages:
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409