"Well, those are the things to guard against,"
said Thorpe, approaching a dismissal of the subject.
"People who show consideration for me; people who take
pains to do the little pleasant things for me, and see
that I'm not annoyed and worried by trifles--they're
the people that I, on my side, do the big things for.
I can be the best friend in the world, but only to those
who show that they care for me, and do what they know
I'll like. I don't want toadies about me, but I do want
people who feel bound to me, and are as keen about me
and my feelings and interests as they are about their own."
"It is delightfully feudal--all this," commented the nobleman,
smilingly addressing the remark to nobody in particular.
Then he looked at Thorpe. "Let me be one of them--one
of the people you speak of," he said, with directness.
Thorpe returned his look with the good-natured
beginnings of a grin. "But what would you be good for?"
he queried, in a bantering tone. "People I have about
me have to be of some use. They require to have heads
on their shoulders. Why--just think what you've done.
I don't mean so much about your letting Tavender slip
through your fingers--although that was about the worst I
ever heard of. But here in this room, at that desk there,
you allowed me to bounce you into writing and signing
a paper which you ought to have had your hand cut off
rather than write, much less sign.
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