Mr.
Dowling has already put in an offer a thousand pounds better than yours; I heard that incidentally yesterday afternoon; so you may be sure that the second your option has legally expired, the thing will be off altogether so far as you're concerned." "That's all very well," Tavernake remarked, "but what about the plots that already belong to me ?" "They have some sort of scheme for leaving those high and dry," the solicitor explained.

"You see, the drainage and lighting will be largely influenced by the purchaser of the whole estate.

If Dowling gets it, he means to treat your plots so that they will become practically valueless.

It's rather a mean sort of thing, but then he's a mean little man." Tavernake nodded.
"Well," he announced, "I was coming to see you, anyhow, this morning, to talk to you about the money." "Your friend isn't backing out ?" the lawyer asked, quickly.
"My friend has not said anything about backing out yet," Tavernake replied, "but circumstances have arisen during the last few days which have altered my own views as to the expediency of business relations with this person.

I haven't any reason to suppose that the money won't be forthcoming, but if I could get it from any other source, I should prefer it." The solicitor looked blank.
"Of course," he said, "I'll do what I can, if you like, but I may as well tell you at once that I don't think I should have a ghost of a chance of raising the whole amount." "I suppose," Tavernake inquired, thoughtfully, "your firm couldn't do anything ?" "We could do something, certainly," the solicitor answered, "on account of our own clients.