The Jews are beginning to be
suspicious of your paper. The news of your quarrel with Sir Oswald is
pretty sure to get about somehow or other, and then where are you?
Cards and billiards are all very well in their way; but you can't live
by them, without turning a regular black-leg, and as a black-leg you
would have no chance of the Raynham estates. No, my dear Reginald,
retrenchment is the word. You must sell out, keep yourself very quiet,
and watch your uncle."
"What do you mean by watching him?" asked Mr. Eversleigh, peevishly.
His friend's advice was by no means palatable to him. He sat in a moody
attitude, with his elbows on his knees, and his head bent forward,
staring at the fire. His wine stood untasted on the table by his side.
"I mean that you must keep your eye upon him, in order to see that he
don't play you a trick," answered the surgeon, at his own leisure.
"What trick should he play me?"
"Well, you see, when a man quarrels with his heir, he is apt to turn
desperate. Sir Oswald might marry."
"Marry! at fifty years of age?"
"Yes. Men of fifty have been known to fall as desperately in love as
any of your heroes of two or three and twenty. Sir Oswald would be a
splendid match, and depend upon it, there are plenty of beautiful and
high-born women who would be glad to call themselves Lady Eversleigh.
Take my advice, Reginald, dear boy, and keep your eye on the baronet.
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