"
"I suppose you held that out as a threat to her when you forced her to
sign that power of attorney?" observed Nesta.
For the first time since her arrival Pratt looked at his visitor in an
unfriendly fashion. His expression changed and his face flushed a
little.
"You think that, do you?" he said. "Well, you're wrong. I'm not a fool.
I held out no such threat. I didn't even tell your mother what I'd found
out. I wasn't going to show her my hand all at once--though I've shown
you a good deal of it."
"Not all?" she asked quickly.
"Not all," answered Pratt with a meaning glance. "To use more
metaphors--I've several cards up my sleeve, Miss Mallathorpe. But you're
utterly wrong about the threats. I'll tell you--I don't mind that--how I
got the authority you're speaking about. Your mother had promised me
that stewardship--for life. I'd have been a good steward. But we
recognized that your brother's death had altered things--that you,
being, as she said, a self-willed young woman--you see how plain I
am--would insist on looking after your own affairs. So she gave
me--another post. I'll discharge its duties honestly."
"Yes," said Nesta, "but you've already told me that you'd a hold on my
mother before any of these recent events happened, and that you possess
some document which she was anxious to get into her hands.
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