leaning hard on a marqueterie
table that stood between them:

"I offer you, sir, the post, the double post, of agent to my property,
and of private secretary, or assistant to myself. I offer you a salary of
three thousand a year--three thousand pounds, a year--if you will
undertake the management of my estates, and be my lieutenant in the
arrangement of my collections. I wish--as I have said--to unpack this
house; and I should like to leave my property in order before I die.
Which reminds me, I should of course be perfectly ready to make proper
provision, by contract, or otherwise, so that in the event of any sudden
termination of our agreement--my death for instance--you should be
adequately protected. Well, there, in outline, is my proposal!"

During this extraordinary speech Faversham's countenance had reflected
with tolerable clearness the various impressions made by it--incredulous
or amused astonishment--bewilderment--deepening gravity--coming round
again to astonishment. He raised himself in his chair.

"You wish to make me your agent--the agent for these immense estates?"

"I do. I had an excellent agent once--twenty years ago. But old Dovedale
stole him from me--bribed him by higher pay. Since then I have had
nothing but clerks--rent-collectors--rascally makeshifts, all of them."

"But I know nothing about land--I have had no experience!"

"A misfortune--but in some ways to the good. I don't want any cocksure
fellow, with brand-new ideas lording it over me. I should advise you of
course."

"But--at the same time--I should not be content with a mere clerk's
place, Mr. Melrose," said Paversham, a momentary flash in his dark eye.
"I am one of those men who are better as principals than as subordinates.
Otherwise I should be in harness by now."

Melrose eyed him askance for a moment--then said: "I understand. I should
be willing to steer my course accordingly--to give you a reasonable
freedom. There are two old clerks in the estate-office, who know
everything that is to be known about the property, and there are my
solicitors both in Carlisle and Pengarth. For the rest, you are a lawyer,
and there are some litigations pending. Your legal knowledge would be of
considerable service. If you are the clever fellow I take you for, a
month or two's hard work, the usual technical books, some expert
advice--and I have little doubt you would make as good an agent as any of
them. Mind, I am _not_ prepared to spend unl