"
Percy's eyes flashed. "When can I have the place?" said he, eagerly.
"In half an hour. I'll draw you a three months' agreement. Got any
paper? Of course not. Julia is so near. What are those? Playing-cards.
What do you play? 'Patience,' all by yourself. No wonder you are
quarrelsome! Nothing else to bestow your energy on."
Percy denied this imputation. The cards were for pistol practice. He shot
daily at the pips in the yard.
"It is the fiend _Ennui_ that loads your pistols, and your temper too.
Didn't I tell you so?"
Walter then demanded the ace of diamonds, and on its face let him the
house and premises on a repairing lease for three years, rent L5 a year:
which was a good bargain for both parties, since Percy was sure to lay
out a thousand pounds or two on the property, and to bind Julia more
closely to him, who was worth her weight in gold ten times over.
Walter had brought the keys with him, so he drove Percy over at once and
gave him possession, and, to do the little fellow justice, the moisture
of gratitude stood in his eyes when they parted.
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