But, supposing he obtained a
nomination, how could he purchase his outfit? He had but a few guineas,
and after what Diggle had said he would starve rather than ask the squire
for a penny. True, under his father's will he was to receive five
thousand pounds at the age of twenty-one. Would Richard advance part of
the sum? Knowing Richard, he hardly dared to hope for such a departure
from the letter of the law. But it was at least worth attempting.
Chapter 4: In which blows are exchanged; and our hero, setting forth upon
his travels, scents an adventure.
That same day, at supper, seeing that Richard was apparently in good
humor, Desmond ventured to make a suggestion.
"Dick," he said frankly, "don't you think it would be better for all of
us if I went away? You and I don't get along very well, and perhaps I was
not cut out for a farmer."
Richard grunted, and Mrs. Burke looked apprehensively from one to the
other.
"What's your idea?" asked Richard.
"Well, I had thought of a writership in the East India Company's service,
or better still, a cadetship in the Company's forces."
"Hark to him!" exclaimed Richard, with a scornful laugh. "A second Clive,
sink me! And where do you suppose the money is to come from?"
"Couldn't you advance me a part of what is to come to me when I am
twenty-one?"
"Not a penny, I tell you at once, not a penny. 'Tis enough to be saddled
with you all these years. You may think yourself lucky if I can scrape
together a tenth of the money that'll be due to you when you're
twenty-one.
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