I've wondered since, more than once--if
you don't mind the question--how did you happen to have
so much ready money lying about."
"There are some Glasgow and Aberdeen folk who trust me to
invest for them," the broker explained. "If they get five
per cent. for the four months, they'll be very pleased.
And so I shall be very pleased to take thirty thousand
instead of twenty--if it presents itself to your mind
in that way. You will give me a letter to that effect,
of course."
"Of course," assented Thorpe. "Write it now, if you like."
He pushed his chair forward, closer to the desk, and dipped
a pen in the ink. "What I want to do is this," he said,
looking up. "I'll make the promise for thirty-two thousand,
and I'll get you to let me have two thousand in cash
now--a personal advance. I shall need it, if I'm to hang
about on the Continent for four months. I judge you think
it'll be four months before things materialize, eh?"
"The Special Settlement, in the natural order of events,
would come shortly after the Christmas holidays.
That is nearly three months. Then the work of taking
fort-nightly profits will begin--and it is for you to say
how long you allow that to go on."
"But about the two thousand pounds now," Thorpe reminded him.
"I think I will do that in this way," said Semple,
kicking his small legs nonchalantly.
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