wish，withallmyheart，theresponsibilitywasoffmyshoulders；butheisobstinate——orletmerathersay，resolute——andhewon’ttakeitoff。``Merriman，Ileavedetailstoyou。Dowhatyouthinkrightformyinterests，andconsidermeashavingpersonallywithdrawnfromthebusinessuntilitisallover。’’ThosewereSirPercival’swordsafortnightago，andallIcangethimtodonowistorepeatthem。Iamnotahardman，MrGilmore，asyouknow。Personallyandprivately，Idoassureyou，Ishouldliketospongeoutthatnoteofmineatthisverymoment。ButifSirPercivalwon’tgointothematter，ifSirPercivalwillblindlyLeaveallhisinterestsinmysolecare，whatcoursecanIpossiblytakeexceptthecourseofassertingthem？Myhandsarebound——don’tyousee，mydearsir？——myhandsarebound。’
`Youmaintainyournoteontheclause，then，totheletter？’Isaid。
`Yes——deucetakeit！Ihavenootheralternative。’Hewalkedtothefireplaceandwarmedhimself，hummingthefagendofatuneinarichconvivialbassvoice。`Whatdoesyoursidesay？’hewenton；`nowpraytellme——
whatdoesyoursidesay？’
Iwasashamedtotellhim。Iattemptedtogaintime——nay，Ididworse。