The Napoleon of Notting Hill
he did no doubt, in the heat of the moment, speak disrespectfully. But the rest of the discussion he seems to me to have conducted with great good temper."
Buck looked genuinely pleased, for business men are all simple-minded, and have therefore that degree of communion with fanatics. The King, for some reason, looked, for the first time in his life, ashamed.
"This very kind speech of the Provost of Notting Hill," began Buck, pleasantly, "seems to me to show that we have at last got on to a friendly footing. Now come, Mr. Wayne. Five hundred pounds have been offered to you for a property you admit not to be worth a hundred. Well, I am a rich man and I won't be outdone in generosity. Let us say fifteen hundred pounds, and have done with it. And let us shake hands." And he rose, glowing and laughing.
"Fifteen hundred pounds," whispered Mr. Wilson of Bayswater; "can we do fifteen hundred pounds?"
"I'll stand the racket," said Buck heartily. "Mr. Wayne is a gentleman and has spoken up for me. So I suppose the negotiations are at an end."
Wayne bowed.
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