"Should
you care to take a place in some good house of business on the
Continent, or elsewhere abroad? I think it's in my power to open a
way for you such as you would not easily make by your own
exertions."
The listener was suffering. But for one thing, this offer would have
tempted him strongly; but that one thing made it idle for him to
think of what was proposed. To-day or to-morrow Quarrier would be
bargain made with reference to the future must collapse. exposed by
his plotting enemies, and thereupon any If he were to profit by
Quarrier at all, it must needs be in the shape of a payment which
could not be recovered.
"I don't care to go into business again," he said, with a mingling
of real annoyance and affected superiority. "I have other views."
"Can I help to advance them?" asked Denzil, sickening under the
necessity of speaking fair.
The dialogue lasted for half an hour more. Jealousy notwithstanding,
Northway had made up his mind to gain what was to be gained. Lilian
was beyond his reach; it would be foolish to go back to his poverty
and cloudy overlook when solid assistance was held out to him. With
much posturing and circumlocution, he came at length to the avowal
that a sum of ready money would not be refused.
"Are you wise in preferring this to the other kind of help?" Denzil
urged.
"I have my own views.
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