Perhaps you would honor me with your patronage, too.
I dare say that will be the next courtesy. Well, I can't say but I am a
fortunate fellow. Will you have the goodness, however, to proceed, sir,
and open your negotiations? unless, in the true diplomatic spirit, you
wish to keep me in ignorance of its real object."
"It is a task that I enter upon with great pain," replied the other,
without noticing the offensive politeness of the baronet, "because I
am aware that there are associations connected with it, which you, as a
father, cannot contemplate without profound sorrow."
"Don't rest assured of that," said Sir Thomas. "Your philosophy may
lead you astray there. A sensible man, sir, never regrets that which is
worthless."
The stranger looked a good deal surprised; however, he opened the
negotiation, as the baronet said, in due form.
"I believe, Sir Thomas Gourlay," he proceeded, "you remember that the
son and heir of your late brother, Sir Edward Gourlay, long deceased,
disappeared very mysteriously some sixteen or eighteen years ago, and
has been lost to the family ever since.
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