‘Far from it, Marquess. We just want your help in a public work on behalf of the humble. It’s a slum proposition, as the Yanks say.’
The Marquess shook his head.
‘I don’t like interfering with the humble; the humbler people are, the more one ought to consider their feelings.’
‘We’re absolutely with you there, sir; but let my son explain.’
‘Sit down, then.’ And the Marquess rose, placed his foot on his chair, and, leaning his elbow on his knee, inclined his head to one side. For the second time that evening Michael plunged into explanation.
’Bentworth?’ said the Marquess. ‘His shorthorns are good; a solid fellow, but behind the times.’
‘That’s why we want you, Marquess.’
‘My dear young Mont, I’m too old.’
‘It’s precisely because you’re so young that we came to you.’
‘Frankly, sir,’ said Michael, ‘we thought you’d like to be on the committee of appeal, because in my uncle’s policy there’s electrification of the kitchens; we must have someone who’s an authority on that and keep it to the fore.’
‘Ah!’ said the Marquess. ‘Hilary Charwell – I once heard him preach in St Paul’s – most amusing! What do the slum-dwellers say to electrification?’
‘Nothing till it’s done, of course, but once it’s done, it’s everything to them.’
‘H’m!’ said the Marquess. ‘H’m! It would appear that there are no flies on your uncle.’
‘We hope’ pursued Michael, ‘that, with electrification, there will soon be no flies on anything else.’
The Marquess nodded. ‘It’s the right end of the stick. I’ll think of it. My trouble is that I’ve no money; and I don’t like appealing to others without putting down something substantial myself.’
The two Monts looked at each other; the excuse was patent, and they had not foreseen it.
‘I suppose,’ went on the Marquess, ‘you don’t know anyone who would buy some lace – point de Venise, the real stuff? Or,’ he added, ‘I’ve a Morland –’
‘Have you?’ cried Michael. ‘My father-in-law was saying only the other day that he wanted a Morland.’
‘Has he a good home for it?’ said the Marquess, rather wistfully. ‘It’s a white pony.’
‘Oh, yes, sir; he’s a real collector.’
‘Any chance of its going to the nation, in time?’
‘Quite a good chance, I think.’
‘Well, perhaps he’d come and look at it. It’s never changed hands so far. If he would give me the market price, whatever that may be, it might solve the problem.’
‘That’s frightfully good of you.’
‘Not at all,’ said the Marquess. ‘I believe in electricity, and I detest smoke; this seems a movement in the right direction. It’s a Mr Forsyte, I think. There was a case – my granddaughter; but that’s a past matter. I trust you’re friends again?’
‘Yes, sir; I saw her about a fortnight ago, and it was quite O.K.’
‘Nothing lasts with you modern young people,’ said the Marquess; ‘the younger generation seems to have forgotten the war already. Is that good, I wonder? What do you say, Mont?’
‘ “Tout casse, tout passe,” Marquess.’
‘Oh! I don’t complain,’ said the Marquess; ‘rather the contrary. By the way – on this committee you’ll want a new man with plenty of money.’
‘Can you suggest one?’
‘My next-door neighbour – a man called Montross – I think his real name is shorter – might possibly serve. He’s made millions, I believe, out of the elastic band – has some patent for making them last only just long enough. I see him sometimes gazing longingly at the – I don’t use them, you know. Perhaps if you mention my name. He has a wife, and no title at present I should imagine he might be looking for a public work.’
‘He sounds,’ said Sir Lawrence, ‘the very man. Do you think we might venture now?’
‘Try!’ said the Marquess, ‘try. A domestic character, I’m told. It’s no use doing things by halves; an immense amount of money will be wanted if we are to electrify any considerable number of kitchens. A man who would help substantially towards that would earn his knighthood much better than most people.’
‘I agree,’ said Sir Lawrence; ‘a real public service. I suppose we mustn’t dangle the knighthood?’
The Marquess shook the head that was resting on his hand.