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‘It is,’ said Hugh, a little too quickly ‘What Ito work overtime just to keep our heads above water’
‘I think I understand,’ said Cornelius ‘Still, I’ you can to help, now you’re fully aware of my situation’ He put the phone down and smiled
The next victim to contact him didn’t bother to phone, but arrived at the front door a few er off the buzzer until the door had been opened
‘Where’s Pauline?’ was Margaret’s first question when her brother opened the door Cornelius stared down at his sister, who had put on a little too
‘I’o,’ said Cornelius as he bent down to kiss his sister on the cheek ‘The petitioner in bankruptcy takes a rather dim view of people who can’t afford to pay their creditors, but still e It was considerate of you to pop round so quickly infor a cup of tea, I’m afraid you’ll have to make it yourself’
‘I didn’t come round for a cup of tea, as I suspect you know only too well, Cornelius What I want to know is how you ed to fritter away your entire fortune’ Before her brother could deliver some well-rehearsed lines from his script, she added, ‘You’ll have to sell the house, of course I’ve always said that since Millie’s death it’s far too large for you You can always take a bachelor flat in the village’
‘Such decisions are no longer into sound helpless
‘What are you talking about?’ de on him
‘Just that the house and its contents have already been seized by the petitioners in bankruptcy If I’ bankrupt, we her price than the estate agents are predicting’
‘Are you tellingleft?’
‘Less than nothing would be‘And once they’ve evicted o’ He tried to sound plaintive ‘So I was rather hoping that you would allow me to take up the kind offer you made at Millie’s funeral and come and live with you’
His sister turned away, so that Cornelius was unable to see the expression on her face
‘That wouldn’t be convenient at the present tih and Elizabeth have far more spare rooms in their house than I do’
‘Quite so,’ said Cornelius He coughed ‘And the saret – I’m sorry to raise the subject, but’
‘What little money I have is carefully invested, and my brokers tell me that this is not a time to sell’