"
"What's that?"
"That he should encourage the marriage between Simpkins and his niece.
I shall explain to him that it is very much to his own interest to do
so, and of course he'll see the force of what I say at once. I shan't
mention the ultimate fate of Simpkins. I don't suppose he'd care much
if I did. He can't be particularly keen on preserving Simpkins' life,
for he doesn't know him. Still it is best to avoid all risks, and I
shall treat the marriage as the ordinary conventional love-match,
without hinting at any connection between it and Miss King's peculiar
art. When I've settled things up with him--that'll be about twelve or
one o'clock, if I get at him before he starts fishing for the day--I
shall go down to the village and get a hold of Simpkins. He'll be in
his office, I expect. I shall lunch with him, and then lead him up and
lay him at Miss King's feet."
"Will he go for you? He hasn't shown any great eagerness for the match
so far."
"I shan't give him much choice," said Meldon. "I shall tell him that
the thing has got to be done at once. Very few men are able to stand
up to me when I take a really determined tone with them, and I shall
speak in the strongest way to Simpkins.
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