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“No,” said Elvira, “I don’t think I’d be clever enough for that” She paused before saying, “I suppose you’d have to agree to anything if I did want to do it?”

Egerton’s keen eyes focused sharply

“I auardians, and a trustee under your father’s will, yes,” he said “Therefore, you have a perfect right to approach me at anytime”

Elvira said, “Thank you,” politely Egerton asked:

“Is there anything worrying you?”

“No Not really But you see, I don’t know anything Nobody’s ever told s One doesn’t always like to ask”

He looked at her attentively

“You s about yourself?”

“Yes,” said Elvira “It’s kind of you to understand Uncle Derek—” she hesitated

“Derek Luscombe, you mean?”

“Yes I’ve always called him uncle”

“I see”

“He’s very kind,” said Elvira, “but he’s not the sort of person who ever tells you anything He just arranges things, and looks a little worried in case they htn’t be what I’d like Of course he listens to a lot of people—wos Like Contessa Martinelli He arranges forplaces”

“And they haven’t been where you wanted to go?”

“No, I didn’t ht I oes”

“I see”

“But I don’t know anything about ot, and how much, and what I could do with it if I wanted”

“In fact,” said Egerton, with his attractive smile, “you want to talk business Is that it? Well, I think you’re quite right Let’s see How old are you? Sixteen—seventeen?”

“I’m nearly twenty”

“Oh dear I’d no idea”

“You see,” explained Elvira, “I feel all the ti shielded and sheltered It’s nice in a way, but it can get very irritating”

“It’s an attitude that’s gone out of date,” agreed Egerton, “but I can quite see that it would appeal to Derek Luscombe”

“He’s a dear,” said Elvira, “but very difficult, somehow, to talk to seriously”

“Yes, I can see that that ht be so Well, how much do you know about yourself, Elvira? About your family circumstances?”

“I know that my father died when I was five and that my mother had run away from him with someone when I was about two, I don’t remember her at all I barely re up on a chair He used to swear I was rather scared of him After he died I lived first with an aunt or a cousin or so of my father’s, until she died, and then I lived with Uncle Derek and his sister But then she died and I went to Italy Uncle Derek has arranged for me, now, to live with the Melfords who are his cousins and very kind and nice and have two daughters about e”

“You’re happy there?”

“I don’t know yet I’ve barely got there They’re all very dull I really wanted to kno ot”

“So it’s financial information you really want?”

“Yes,” said Elvira “I’ve got some money Is it a lot?”

Egerton was serious now

“Yes,” he said “You’ve got a lot of money Your father was a very rich man You were his only child When he died, the title and the estate went to a cousin He didn’t like the cousin, so he left all his personal property, which was considerable, to his daughter—to you, Elvira You’re a very rich woman, or will be, when you are twenty-one”

“You mean I am not rich now?”

“Yes,” said Egerton, “you’re rich now, but the money is not yours to dispose of until you are twenty-one or marry Until that time it is in the hands of your Trustees Luscombe, myself and another” He s like that It’s still there In fact, we’ve increased your capital considerably by investments”

“How much will I have?”