CHAPTER III

"POOR PORSON"

Upon the morning following his conversation with Morris, Colonel Monk
spent two hours or more in the library. Painfully did he wrestle
there with balance-sheets, adding up bank books; also other financial
documents.

"Phew!" he said, when at length the job was done. "It is worse than I
thought, a good deal worse. My credit must be excellent, or somebody
would have been down upon us before now. Well, I must talk things over
with Porson. He understands figures, and so he ought, considering that
he kept the books in his grandfather's shop."

Then the Colonel went to lunch less downcast than might have been
expected, since he anticipated a not unamusing half-hour with his
son. As he knew well, Morris detested business matters and money
calculations. Still, reflected his parent, it was only right that he
should take his share of the family responsibilities--a fact which he
fully intended to explain to him.

But "in vain is the net spread," etc. As Morris passed the door of the
library on his way to the old chapel of the Abbey, which now served
him as a laboratory, he had seen his father bending over the desk and
guessed his occupation. Knowing, therefore, what he must expect at
lunch, Morris determined to dispense with that meal, and went out, much
to the Colonel's disappointment and indignation. "I hate," he explained
to his brother-in-law Porson afterwards, "yes, I hate a fellow who won't
face disagreeables and shirks his responsibilities."