That they could take him on his
own terms--or let him go.
Terrified, therefore, lest he and his money should slip out of their
hands, they snapped at his carelessly made offer without venturing an
objection. And they realized at the same time in a way equally
mysterious, and to their own surprise, that not they but Mr. and Mrs.
Nelson Smith would be master and mistress of the house in Portman Square.
If there were ever a clash between wills, Nelson Smith's would prevail
over theirs.
How this impression was conveyed to their intelligence they could hardly
have explained even to each other. The man was so pleasant, so careless
of finances or conventionalities, that not one word or look could be
treasured up against him.
"The fellow's a genius!" Annesley-Seton said to Constance, when they were
talking over the latest phase of the game. And they respected him.
Lady Annesley-Seton wished to bring to town the servants, including a
wonderful butler, who had been transferred for economy's sake to Valley
House. This proposal, however, Nelson Smith dismissed with a few
good-natured words. He had his eye upon a butler whose brother was
a chauffeur.
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