"Then you ought to know him--well," she suggested. "As to that," replied Eldrick, "there are some people in this world whom other people never could know well--that's to say, really well. I know Pratt well enough for what he was--our clerk. Privately, I know little about him. He's clever--he's ability--he's a chap who reads a good deal--he's got ambitions. And I should say he is a bit--subtle." "Deceitful?" she asked. "I couldn't say that," replied Eldrick. "It wouldn't be true if I said so. I think he's possibilities of strategy in him. But so far as we're concerned, we found him hardworking, energetic, truthful, dependable and honest, and absolutely to be trusted in money matters. He's had many and many a thousand pounds of ours through his hands." "I believe you're unaware that my mother, for some reason or other, unknown to me, has put him in charge of her affairs?" asked Nesta. "Yes--Mr. Collingwood told me so," answered Eldrick. "So, too, did your own solicitor, Mr. Robson--who's very angry about it." "And you?" she said, putting a direct question. "What do you think? Do please, tell me!" "It's difficult to say, Miss Mallathorpe," replied Eldrick, with a smile and a shake of the head. "If your mother--who, of course, is quite competent to decide for herself--wishes to have somebody to look after her affairs, I don't see what objection can be taken to her procedure. And if she chooses to put Linford Pratt in that position--why not? As I tell you, I, as his last--and only--employer, am quite convinced of his abilities and probity. I suppose that as your mother's agent, he'll supervise her property, collect money due to her, advise her in investments, and so on. Well, I should say--personally, mind--he's quite competent to do all that, and that he'll do it honestly, I should certainly say so." "But--why should he do it at all?" asked Nesta. Eldrick waved his hands. "Ah!" he exclaimed. "Now you ask me a very different question! But--I understand--in fact, I know--that Pratt turns out to be a relation of yours--distant, but it's there. Perhaps your mother--who, of course, is much better off since your brother's sad death--is desirous of benefiting Pratt--as a relation." "Do you advise anything?" asked Nesta. "Well, you know, Miss Mallathorpe," replied Eldrick, smiling. "I'm not your legal adviser. What about Mr. Robson?" "Mr. Robson is so very angry about all this--with my mother," said Nesta, "that I don't even want to ask his advice. What I really do want is the advice, counsel, of somebody--perhaps more as a friend than as a solicitor." "Delighted to give you any help I can--either professionally or as a friend," exclaimed Eldrick. "But--let me suggest something. And first of all--is there anything--something--in all this that you haven't told to anybody yet?" "Yes--much!" she answered. "A great deal!"