Meet The Baron Read Free

Act.”
    “It is a thing that worries us both a darned sight more than you seem to understand,” said Randall, with real seriousness. “Damn it, neither Toby nor I want to see you go under.”
    Mannering’s eyes twinkled, and he nodded.
    “I know,” he said; “but what can you do with a man who’s tried the cure and found it doesn’t take? You’ll only worry yourselves grey - ”
    “About you?” asked Randall coldly.
    “Oh, no. About the failure of your efforts to put me on the right path. And that reminds me, Jimmy, you’ve forgotten the racing and the boxing”
    “Forgotten nothing,” snapped Randall. ‘The only thing you haven’t sunk your money on during this last year is beer - ”
    “Make it alcohol in general,” murmured Mannering.
    “And when you’re down to your last pound or so,” said Randall, “you’ll start that. For the last time - will you drop it?”
    There was silence for a moment. Mannering’s eyes held his friend’s. He had known Randall for twenty years, through the hot enthusiasm of school-days, the blasé years of Cambridge, the recklessness that had followed, and the calmer days of the past five years. He understood Randall; he understood the other member of the trio of friends, Toby Plender, who was also in London; but he did not understand himself, as he answered slowly: “No, Jimmy. Sorry. I’ve set my course, and I’11 stick to it. If I’m blown off it” - he shrugged his shoulders and grinned, that old, cheerful grin - “I’11 find another.”
    “You’re a fool,” said Randall.
    “We’ll celebrate a mutual understanding in a spot more brandy,” said Mannering.
     
    Although he left Randall on that inconsequential note, Mannering was by no means pleased to learn that his friends were taking so close an interest in him. He felt that he wanted to do exactly as he liked, and the thought of interference annoyed him. On the other hand, he had the good sense to realise that neither Randall nor Plender would act - or talk - without the best of motives, and he did not propose to allow the affair to affect a friendship that had weathered many storms.
    If his feeling of irritation left him as he walked towards the City - and Plender’s office - he did not intend to let Plender get away with the thing without some protest. True, it could hardly be called a breach of confidence that the solicitor had told Randall how low Mannering’s finances were, for the three of them had known for a long time most that there was to know about one another, while Plender could say to Randall things that he could say to no other man on earth.
    He reached the solicitor’s office, and was taken to the junior partner’s room immediately. As the door closed, and before he sat down, he smiled sardonically at his friend.
    “I’d like to know,” he said, with a show of annoyance not altogether discounted by the smile in his eyes, whether you call yourself a solicitor or a talking parrot? I suppose you didn’t tell Mimi Rayford that I was down to my last five thousand, did you?”
    “Never heard of Mimi Rayford,” said Toby Plender equably.
    “Nor Jimmy Randall?”
    “That,” said Toby, pressing the tips of his fingers together, “was between friends.” He grinned, and pushed a box of cigarettes across the desk. “Well, what’s your trouble?”
    “I’m going to change my solicitor,” said Mannering, putting his hat and stick on the desk and clearing a corner for his feet. “Mind if I sit down?”
    Plender surveyed the size-ten shoes resting on his desk, shifted his gaze to Mannering’s quizzing eyes, and grinned.
    “So you’re rattled enough to think of changing your solicitor?”
    “Rattled, no. Careful, yes,” said Mannering. `’And when I say change I mean cancel out entirely. Solicitors seem to me too solicitous.”
    “H’m,” said Plender, “H’m. So you’re taking the last five thousand, are you?”
    “Yes, and putting it in a bank. It’s nice to feel you