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‘But you could always come and stay with me’

‘That’s the second such offer I’ve had this ,’ said Cornelius, ‘and as I explained to Elizabeth, after being turned down by both of you earlier, I have had to ements’

‘Then I’aret dramatically, ‘because I don’t have £10,000, not toelse I didn’t know about You see, I’d hoped toback up for sale at Christie’s’

The truth at last, thought Cornelius Or perhaps half the truth

‘Cornelius, you’ve always been the clever one in the fa up in her eyes ‘Surely you can think of a way out of this dilemma’

Cornelius paced around the kitchen as if in deep thought, his sister watching his every step Eventually he came to a halt in front of her ‘I do believe I may have a solution’

‘What is it?’ cried Margaret ‘I’ll agree to anything’

‘Anything?’

‘Anything,’ she repeated

‘Good, then I’ll tell you what I’ll do,’ said Cornelius ‘I’ll pay for the picture in exchange for your new car’

Margaret remained speechless for some time ‘But the car cost me £12,000,’ she said finally

‘Possibly, but you wouldn’t get ht thousand for it second-hand’

‘But then hoould I get around?’

‘Try the bus,’ said Cornelius ‘I can recoes your whole life’ He glanced at his watch ‘In fact, you could start right now; there’s one due in about ten minutes’

‘But’ said Margaret as Cornelius stretched out his open hand Then, letting out a long sigh, she opened her handbag and passed the car keys over to her brother