"
Lord Chaldon assented by an eloquent nod, at once resigned
and hopeful.
"Well--that is contrary to all my expectations--and intentions,"
Thorpe resumed. "I don't want you to suffer by this
unlooked-for change in the shape of things. You hold
two thousand shares--only by accident they're the wrong
kind of shares. Very well: I'll make them the right kind
of shares. I'll have a transfer sent to you tomorrow,
so that you can return those vendor's shares to me,
and in exchange for them I'll give you two thousand
fully-paid ordinary shares. You can sell these at once,
if you like, or you can hold them on over one more settlement,
whichever you please."
"This is very munificent," remarked Lord Chaldon, after an
instant's self-communion. His tone was extremely gracious,
but he displayed none of the enthusiastic excitement
which Thorpe perceived now that he had looked for.
The equanimity of Marquises, who were also ex-Ambassadors,
was evidently a deeper-rooted affair than he had supposed.
This elderly and urbane diplomat took a gift of thirty
thousand pounds as he might have accepted a superior cigar.
A brief pause ensued, and was ended by another remark
from the nobleman: "I thought for the moment of asking
your advice--on this question of selling," he continued.
"But it will be put more appropriately, perhaps, in this
way: Let me leave it entirely in your hands.
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