Page 78 of The Quiet Gentleman

‘No, it isn’t my intention, or my desire. I would prefer to send you to Jamaica.’

‘Eh?’ said Martin, startled.

Gervase turned his head. ‘Why not? Let him go out to manage the West Indian property! He himself has frequently said that he believed it to be ill-run; neither of us can doubt his ability to manage an estate.’

‘But the West Indian property is mine!’

‘Yes, and yours must therefore be the deciding voice.’

‘Well, but – Of course, he can’t remain at Stanyon!’

‘No.’

‘I must say, that to be putting him in charge of anything, after what he has tried to do to us, seems to me the craziest notion I ever heard! However, if he can’t remain at Stanyon – and that he certainly cannot! – I daresay it may be best to send him to Jamaica. It would be bound to create a deal of talk and conjecture if he left us, and was still in England. Everyone would know there must have been something devilish bad to account for it, and I’m at one with you in wanting to hush the business up. Dash it, Gervase, it makes me as sick as a horse to think of a thing like this happening amongst us Frants! You had better do as you choose about it, I suppose!’

‘Then will you, if you please, go and tell them to put my horses to, Martin?’

Martin glanced undecidedly at his cousin. ‘Well –’ He caught the Earl’s eye, said, rather crossly: ‘Oh, as you please!’ and walked out of the room.

There was a long silence. The Earl was absently studying the mountings of his pistol, a frown between his brows; and Theo continued for a full minute to stare down into the fire. He moved at last, and came back to the chair behind the table. He began mechanically to tidy the papers before him into heaps, saying in an expressionless voice: ‘I hope my successor will do as well by you as I have done.’

The Earl raised his eyes. ‘It is unlikely. I know that Stanyon has never had one who served it better, or loved it more. Alas, Theo! My father did you an ill turn, did he not?’

Their eyes met. After a moment Theo’s dropped to the pistol in his cousin’s hand. ‘Oh, put that thing away!’ he said.

The Earl slid it into his pocket. ‘Go to Jamaica!’ he said. ‘If my father, instead of bringing you up to think only of Stanyon, had given you this place, or some other, to have called your own! – if you would have let me repair his omissions – ! But it is all too late!’

‘I never wanted anything either he or you would have given me!’ Theo said.

‘No. I suppose it became an obsession with you, a madness! And lately – forgive me! – there was an added reason, was there not?’

He saw Theo fling up a hand, and was silent. After a pause, Theo said heavily: ‘And if I go to Jamaica – what then?’

‘Oh!’ Gervase said, smiling, ‘you will turn the property into a flourishing concern, and then, I have no doubt, you will yourself become a landowner there, and a prosperous one, for you were born to succeed, Theo!’

Theo gave one of his short laughs. ‘You are a strange creature, Gervase!’

‘No, why? I remember only a cousin who took care of my interests, of whom I was fond. The rest will be forgotten.’ He got up, as he heard the sound of horses on the carriage-sweep. ‘I think I had better go, or we shall have Martin coming to fetch me. The West Indian business shall be settled as speedily as I can contrive. Good-bye – and God speed!’

He left the room before Theo could reply. Martin was waiting for him below the steps, seated in his curricle. ‘I’ve told Theo’s man I’ll send over to fetch the bay tomorrow. I am going to drive you home!’ Martin announced belligerently. ‘I don’t want you laid up again, and you’re looking as queer as Dick’s hatband, let me tell you!’

‘Thank you,’ said Gervase meekly, climbing into the curricle.

‘What did he say to you? Did he admit it?’ Martin asked, setting the grays in motion.

‘To tell you the truth,’ said Gervase, ‘we did not speak of it.’

‘Good God! Well, does he mean to go to Jamaica?’

‘Oh, yes!’

‘He may count himself fortunate! And who is to fill his place? What a pickle it all is! He was devilish good at looking after our affairs, you know!’

‘I fancy you might become as good.’

‘I?’ Martin exclaimed. ‘Are you asking me to become your agent?’

‘No, that would be unsuitable. I shall employ an agent, but Theo was more than that. You could do much that he did – if you chose to!’

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