"
I smiled, and remarked that I supposed it would.
"I once lived in one of my excellent client's houses,"
observed the lawyer; "and I was tempted, in that case,
to think it had gone far enough."
"Under these circumstances, sir," said I, "you will be
rather relieved to hear that I have no intention of
becoming a builder."
At this he fairly laughed; and, the ice being broken, I
was able to consult him as to my conduct. He insisted
I must return to the house--at least, for luncheon, and
one of my walks with Mr. Loudon. "For the evening, I
will furnish you with an excuse, if you please," said
he, "by asking you to a bachelor dinner with myself But
the luncheon and the walk are unavoidable. He is an
old man, and, I believe, really fond of you; he would
naturally feel aggrieved if there were any appearance
of avoiding him; and as for Mr. Adam, do you know, I
think your delicacy out of place.... And now, Mr. Dodd,
what are you to do with this money?"
Ay, there was the question. With two thousand pounds--
fifty thousand francs--I might return to Paris and the
arts, and be a prince and millionaire in that thrifty
Latin Quarter.
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