Chapter 3

           “Imusttakeleavetoobserve,SirWalter,”saidMrShepherdonemorningatKellynchHall,ashelaiddownthenewspaper,“thatthepresentjunctureismuchinourfavour.Thispeacewillbeturningallourrichnavalofficersashore.Theywillbeallwantingahome.Couldnotbeabettertime,SirWalter,forhavingachoiceoftenants,veryresponsibletenants.Manyanoblefortunehasbeenmadeduringthewar.Ifarichadmiralweretocomeinourway,SirWalter—”

           “Hewouldbeaveryluckyman,Shepherd,”repliedSirWalter;“that’sallIhavetoremark.AprizeindeedwouldKellynchHallbetohim;ratherthegreatestprizeofall,lethimhavetakeneversomanybefore;hey,Shepherd?”

           MrShepherdlaughed,asheknewhemust,atthiswit,andthenadded—

           “Ipresumetoobserve,SirWalter,that,inthewayofbusiness,gentlemenofthenavyarewelltodealwith.Ihavehadalittleknowledgeoftheirmethodsofdoingbusiness;andIamfreetoconfessthattheyhaveveryliberalnotions,andareaslikelytomakedesirabletenantsasanysetofpeopleoneshouldmeetwith.