And I should say he is a bit--subtle."
"Deceitful?" she asked.
"I couldn't say that," replied Eldrick. "It wouldn't be true if I said
so. I think he's possibilities of strategy in him. But so far as we're
concerned, we found him hardworking, energetic, truthful, dependable and
honest, and absolutely to be trusted in money matters. He's had many and
many a thousand pounds of ours through his hands."
"I believe you're unaware that my mother, for some reason or other,
unknown to me, has put him in charge of her affairs?" asked Nesta.
"Yes--Mr. Collingwood told me so," answered Eldrick. "So, too, did your
own solicitor, Mr. Robson--who's very angry about it."
"And you?" she said, putting a direct question. "What do you think? Do
please, tell me!"
"It's difficult to say, Miss Mallathorpe," replied Eldrick, with a smile
and a shake of the head. "If your mother--who, of course, is quite
competent to decide for herself--wishes to have somebody to look after
her affairs, I don't see what objection can be taken to her procedure.
And if she chooses to put Linford Pratt in that position--why not? As I
tell you, I, as his last--and only--employer, am quite convinced of his
abilities and probity. I suppose that as your mother's agent, he'll
supervise her property, collect money due to her, advise her in
investments, and so on.
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