III - The Scrawled Message
BUT, AS IT TURNED OUT, Dorcas hadn’t “done it” at all. Bates on reaching his aunt’s apartment found no one at home. But very soon Sir Herbert Binney appeared.
“Look here, Richard,” he began, “I’ve taken a fancy to that little girl of yours ...”
“She isn’t mine.”
“You’d like her to be?”
“Very much; in conditions that would please us both.”
“Meaning Bunless conditions. I can’t offer you those, but I do say now, and, for the last time, if you will take hold of my Bun proposition, I’ll give you any salary you want, any interest in the business you ask, and make you my sole heir. I’ve already done the last, but unless you fall in with my plans now, I’m going to make another will and your name will be among the missing.”
“But, Uncle Herbert ...”
“I’ve no time f
