Dacre.
'Thank you, a very good one indeed, a remarkably good dinner. Give me
some red wine, if you please.'
At length they were left alone.
'I have some good news for you, George.'
'Indeed.'
'I think I have let Rosemount.'
'So!'
'And exactly to the kind of person that you wanted, a man who will take
a pride, although merely a tenant, in not permitting his poor neighbours
to feel the _want_ of a landlord. You will never guess: Lord Mildmay!'
'What did you say of Lord Mildmay, sir?'
'My dear fellow, your wits are wool-gathering; I say I think I have let
Rosemount.'
'Oh! I have changed my mind about letting Rosemount.'
'My dear Duke, there is no trouble which I will grudge, to further your
interests; but really I must beg, in future, that you will, at least,
apprise me when you change your mind. There is nothing, as we have both
agreed, more desirable than to find an eligible tenant for Rosemount.
You never can expect to have a more beneficial one than Lord Mildmay;
and really, unless you have positively promised the place to another
person (which, excuse me for saying, you were not authorised to do) I
must insist, after what has passed, upon his having the preference.
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