"Gradman! I don't like the condition of the country; there are a lot of
people about without any common sense. I want to find a way by which I
can safeguard Miss Fleur against anything which might arise."
Gradman wrote the figure "2" on his blotting-paper.
"Ye-es," he said; "there's a nahsty spirit."
"The ordinary restraint against anticipation doesn't meet the case."
"Nao," said Gradman.
"Suppose those Labour fellows come in, or worse! It's these people with
fixed ideas who are the danger. Look at Ireland!"
"Ah!" said Gradman.
"Suppose I were to make a settlement on her at once with myself as
beneficiary for life, they couldn't take anything but the interest from
me, unless of course they alter the law."
Gradman moved his head and smiled.
"Ah!" he said, "they wouldn't do tha-at!"
"I don't know," muttered Soames; "I don't trust them."
"It'll take two years, sir, to be valid against death duties."
Soames sniffed. Two years! He was only sixty-five!
"That's not the point. Draw a form of settlement that passes all my
property to Miss Fleur's children in equal shares, with antecedent
life-interests first to myself and then to her without power of
anticipation, and add a clause that in the event of anything happening
to divert her life-interest, that interest passes to the trustees, to
apply for her benefit, in their absolute discretion."
Gradman grated: "Rather extreme at your age, sir; you lose control."
"That's my business," said Soames sharply.
Gradman wrote on a piece of paper: "Life-interest--anticipation--divert
interest--absolute discretion...." and said:
"What trustees? There's young Mr. Kingson; he's a nice steady young
fellow."
"Yes, he might do for one. I must have three. There isn't a Forsyte now
who appeals to me."
"Not young Mr. Nicholas? He's at the Bar. We've given 'im briefs."
"He'll never set the Thames on fire," said Soames.
A smile oozed out on Gradman's face, greasy from countless mutton-chops,
the smile of a man who sits all day.
"You can't expect it, at his age, Mr. Soames."
"Why? What is he? Forty?"
"Ye-es, quite a young fellow."
"Well, put him in; but I want somebody who'll take a personal interest.
There's no one that I can see."
"What about Mr. Valerius, now he's come home?"
"Val Dartie? With that father?"
"We-ell," murmured Gradman, "he's been dead seven years--the Statute
runs against him."
"No," said Soames. "I don't like the connection." He rose. Gradman said
suddenly:
"If they were makin' a levy on capital, they could come on the trustees,
sir. So there you'd be just the same. I'd think it over, if I were you."
"That's true," said Soames. "I will. What have you done about that
dilapidation notice in Vere Street?"