“I see, my dear fellow. Executors are the
very devil; they have no feeling. Never mind;
there’s a way of getting to windward of them.
I dine with Harcourt, and he has come to ask you to
join us.”
“With pleasure.”
“I shall expect you at seven, Newland,”
said Harcourt, as he quitted the room with the Major.
“Dear me, sir, how could you let that gentleman
walk off with your money?” cried Timothy.
“I was just rubbing my hands with the idea that
we were L20 better off than we thought, and away it
went, like smoke.”
“And will never come back again, Tim; but never
mind that, it is important that I make a friend of
him, and his friendship is only to be bought.
I shall have value received. And now, Tim, we
must pack up, for I leave this to-morrow morning.
I shall go down to ——, and see little
Fleta.”
I dined with Harcourt. The Major was rather curious
to know what it was which appeared to flurry Lord
Windermear, and what had passed between us. I
told him that his lordship was displeased on money
matters, but that all was right, only that I must
be more careful for the future. “Indeed,
Major, I think I shall take lodgings. I shall
be more comfortable, and better able to receive my
friends.”
Harcourt agreed with me, that it was a much better
plan, when the Major observed, “Why, Newland,
I have a room quite at your service; suppose you come
and live with me?”
“I am afraid I shall not save by that,”
replied I, laughing, “for you will not pay your
share of the bills.”
“No, upon my honour I will not; so I give you
fair warning; but as I always dine with you when I
do not dine elsewhere, it will be a saving to you—for
you will have your lodgings, Newland; and you
know the house is my own, and I let off the rest of
it; so as far as that bill is concerned, you will
be safe.”
“Make the best bargain you can, Newland,”
said Harcourt; “accept his offer, for depend
upon it, it will be a saving in the end.”
“It certainly deserves consideration,”
replied I; “and the Major’s company must
be allowed to have its due weight in the scale; if
Carbonnell will promise to be a little more economical—”
“I will, my dear fellow—I will act
as your steward, and make your money last as long
as I can, for my own sake, as well as yours.
Is it a bargain? I have plenty of room for your
servant, and if he will assist me a little, I will
discharge my own.” I then consented to the
arrangement.
The Major teaches me
how to play Whist, so as never to lose, which
is by playing against
each other, and into each other’s hands.
