The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MR. GUNTHORPE 87 “ Yes, from banking.” “Well, from banking, then, if you prefer it. I suppose that the term business is a leetle too vulgar? ”’ “Between you and me, my dear Mr. Gunthorpe, it is vulgar, excessively vulgar.” ‘Grates upon one’s nerves, eh? ”’ said the old gentleman, seeming to laugh good-naturedly. “Oh, terribly!’’ cried Lord Saxondale. ‘“‘ To me it’s just like cutting iron with a file.”’ “ Well, then,” proceeded Mr. Gunthorpe, “ as I was ob- serving, | have retired from banking, and mean to settle down somewhere in England. I told Snuff— I beg your pardon, my attorney, I mean; I won’t mention his name, because that also will most likely grate upon your nerves, but I told him to look out and see if he could purchase me an estate — ”’ “Ah! but mind what you are doing, Mr. Gunthorpe,” exclaimed Lord Harold. “ Don’t leave it to your solicitor.” ‘‘ Solicitor? ’’ echoed the old gentleman. “Is that the fashionable name? ”’ ‘““ Yes, we never say attorney at the West End, always solicitor. But as I was going to remark,” continued Lord Harold, ‘‘ don’t for Heaven’s sake let this solicitor of yours have the looking out after an estate for you. He would only think of buying you some tract of land over which a railway is going to run, so that he may have the job of proceeding against the directors for compensation on your behalf. Besides, his taste cannot possibly be good. There would be no pineries and vineries, no hothouses and greenhouses, no artificial pieces of water upon the estate of a lawyer’s chcos- ing; and very likely he would buy you a brick-field, so that you might speculate in houses, that he might draw up the leases and sue the tenants for their rent.”’ “Then what would your lordship advise?’’ asked Mr. Gunthorpe, seeming to acknowledge all the seriousness and gravity of the young nobleman’s objections. “ Why, since my revered and respected uncle the marquis has recommended you so especially to my attention,” an- swered Lord Harold, ‘‘ I feel it a duty to offer my services in this matter.”’ “ Ah! then your lordship would undertake to find me a suitable estate?’ said Mr. Gunthorpe. CONNIE DOOkKS (S(O)