Explore "Paul Quentin" by Fred M. White on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Passmore appeared to be taken by surprise at the suddenness of the request. He had lost all stiffness, and had begun to scent a good stroke of business. He knew, too, that he had a rich man to deal with. At the same time, there was something unusual in such hot haste, and Quentin did not fail to see the doubt he had raised in the mind of his host.
"I astonish you," he said, "but I am in the habit of acting on the spur of the moment. I assure you I am a creature of impulse. At present I seem to want those gems more than anything in the world. Perhaps in a week's time I shall change my mind, and be hot-foot in pursuit of something else. Still, I don't want to put you to any inconvenience; only I thought it wasn't very far to Lady Sunningdale's place. I know she was entertaining Royalty last night and in all probability she has not sent the family gems back to her bankers yet. Now, supposing you were to send a trusted messenger to Sunningdale House in my motor. The messenger could be back in an hour or two, and if you could see your way to giving me a a mouthful of dinner meanwhile I should be greatly obliged. I am staying at Harefield for the night, and I could take your messenger in the motor and dress and come back here with him. Then if I arranged to purchase the jewels we could go to town together in the morning and settle the business."