He wrote to Philip, asking him to
receive the young man as clerk, assistant, secretary--anything, with a
view to an ultimate junior partnership; and Philip consented, upon
certain conditions. The sum he demanded was rather a stiff one, as it
seemed to Stephen Orcott, but he opined that such a sum would not have
been asked if the advantages had not been proportionately large. The
bargain was therefore concluded, and Mr. Frederick Orcott came to London.
He was a young man of horsey propensities, gifted with a sublime contempt
for any kind of business requiring application or industry, and with a
supreme belief in his own merits.
George Sheldon had known Frederick Orcott as a boy, and had been in his
society some half-dozen times since his coming to London. He apprehended
no difficulty in obtaining from this young gentleman any information he
had the power to afford.
"How do, Orcott?" he said, with agreeable familiarity. "My brother Phil
not come back yet?"
"No," replied the other, sulkily. "There have been ever so many people
here bothering me about him. Where has he gone? and when will he be back?
and so on. I might as well be some d----d footman, if I'm to sit here
answering questions all day. High Wickham races are on to-day, and I
wanted to see Barmaid run before I put my money on her for Goodwood. She
was bred down our way, you see, and I know she's like enough to win the
cup, if she's fit.
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