"What do you mean?" Tarboe did not like the look in the other's eyes.
"I mean, what you have you shall keep, and what John Grier leaves me by
that will, I will not keep."
"You will inherit, and you shall keep."
"And turn you out!" remarked Carnac ironically. "I needn't be turned out.
I hoped you'd keep me as manager. Few could do it as well, and, as Member
of Parliament, you haven't time yourself. I'll stay as manager at twenty
thousand dollars a year, if you like."
Carnac could not tell him the real reason for declining to inherit, but
that did not matter. Yet there flashed into his heart a love, which he
had never felt so far in his life, for John Grier. The old man had
believed he would come out right in the end, and so had left him the
fortune in so odd a way. How Carnac longed to tell Tarboe the whole truth
about Barode Barouche, and yet dare not! After a short time of hesitation
and doubt, Carnac said firmly:
"I'll stand by the will, if you'll be my partner and manager, Tarboe. If
you'll take half the business and manage the whole of it, I'll sell the
half for a dollar to you, and we can run together to the end."
Tarboe's face lighted; there was triumph in his eyes. It was all better
than he had dared to hope, for he liked the business, and he loathed the
way the world had looked at John Grier's will.
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