“Depends what answers I get to my advertisement.”
“Oh yes,” Monmouth returned, “they will be very amusing. Very amusing indeed.”
“Because the people who will answer will not suit your purpose at all. There may be many who would be glad of help in running a house in these hard times but they dare not answer an advertisement like yours for fear it might be known. And then again think of the risk of taking an unknown into the home?”
“I offer references,” Trent reminded him.
“But my dear sir,” Monmouth protested, “what are athletic clubs in Madison to do with those who have the entrée to Meadowbrook?”
“Supposing,” Trent said presently, “a family such as I want did get into communication with me, how much would they expect?”
Captain Monmouth looked at him appraisingly. Trent felt certain that if a figure were named it would be the one he would have to pay for the privilege of meeting the charming Madame de Beaulieu.
“One couldn’t stay at a decent hotel under two hundred and fifty a week,” the cavalryman returned. “You’d have to pay at least five hundred.”
“I imagined you’d think that,” Monmouth said drily.
“But I could pay it easy enough,” the pseudo-Scandinavian retorted.
And in the end, he did. When Captain Monmouth suggested that the match between the two be ridden off on his own grounds near Westbury, Anthony Trent felt certain that he was taken there to be inspected by the other members of the household.
Edward Conway was a taciturn, drink-sodden man not inclined to be friendly with the affable Oscar Lindholm. Of the match little need be said. Trent, a good rider, had engaged to beat a professional at his own game. Captain Monmouth was the richer by a thousand dollars.
In the billiard room of Elm Lodge after the race Monmouth offered his guest some excellent Scotch whiskey and grew a little more amiable.
“I presume, Mr. Lindholm,” he said, “that you would have no objection to my man of business looking up your rating in Madison?”
“Go as far as you like. What you will find will be satisfactory.”
“It is,” Monmouth smiled. “I wish I had half the money that you have. I should consider myself rich enough and God knows my tastes are not simple.”
“So you had me investigated?” Trent smiled a little. “When?”