He gave me the key-note to his character in the first minute of our acquaintanceship. We had seated ourselves at a table in the smoking-room when an elderly gentleman shuffled past, giving a nod in transit. My companion sprang to his feet almost convulsively, returned the salutation, and subsided slowly into his chair again.
‘The Duke of Devizes,’ he said in an undertone. ‘A most able man. Most able. His nephew, Lord Ronald Stokeshaye, was one of my pupils. A charming boy.’
I gathered that the old feudal spirit still glowed to some extent in Mr Abney’s bosom.
We came to business.
‘So you wish to be one of us, Mr Burns, to enter the scholastic profession?’
I tried to look as if I did.
‘Well, in certain circumstances, the circumstances in which I–ah–myself, I may say, am situated, there is no more delightful occupation. The work is interesting. There is the constant fascination of seeing these fresh young lives develop–and of helping them to develop–under one’s eyes; in any case, I may say, there is the exceptional interest of being in a position to mould the growing minds of lads who will some day take their place among the country’s hereditary legislators, that little knot of devoted men who, despite the vulgar attacks of loudmouthed demagogues, still do their share, and more, in the guidance of England’s fortunes. Yes.’
He paused. I said I thought so, too.
‘You are an Oxford man, Mr Burns, I think you told me? Ah, I have your letter here. Just so. You were at–ah, yes. A fine college. The Dean is a lifelong friend of mine. Perhaps you knew my late pupil, Lord Rollo?–no, he would have been since your time. A delightful boy. Quite delightful… And you took your degree? Exactly. -And- represented the university at both cricket and Rugby football? Excellent. -Mens sana in—ah—corpore-, in fact, -sano-, yes!’
He folded the letter carefully and replaced it in his pocket.
‘Your primary object in coming to me, Mr Burns, is, I gather, to learn the–ah–the ropes, the business? You have had little or no previous experience of school-mastering?’
‘None whatever.’
‘Then your best plan would undoubtedly be to consider yourself and work for a time simply as an ordinary assistant-master. You would thus get a sound knowledge of the intricacies of the profession which would stand you in good stead when you decide to set up your own school. School-mastering is a profession, which cannot be taught adequately except in practice. “Only those who–ah–brave its dangers comprehend its mystery.” Yes, I would certainly recommend you to begin at the foot of the ladder and go, at least for a time, through the mill.’
‘Certainly,’ I said. ‘Of course.’
My ready acquiescence pleased him. I could see that he was relieved. I think he had expected me to jib at the prospect of actual work.
‘As it happens,’ he said, ‘my classical master left me at the end of last term. I was about to go to the Agency for a successor when your letter arrived. Would you consider–‘
I had to think this over. Feeling kindly disposed towards Mr Arnold Abney, I wished to do him as little harm as possible. I was going to rob him of a boy, who, while no moulding of his growing mind could make him into a hereditary legislator, did undoubtedly represent a portion of Mr Abney’s annual income; and I did not want to increase my offence by being a useless assistant-master. Then I reflected that, if I was no Jowett, at least I knew enough Latin and Greek to teach the rudiments of those languages to small boys. My conscience was satisfied.
‘I should be delighted,’ I said.
‘Excellent. Then let us consider that as–ah–settled,’ said Mr Abney.
There was a pause. My companion began to fiddle a little uncomfortably with an ash-tray. I wondered what was the matter, and then it came to me. We were about to become sordid. The discussion of terms was upon us.
And as I realized this, I saw simultaneously how I could throw one more sop to my exigent conscience. After all, the whole thing was really a question of hard cash. By kidnapping Ogden I should be taking money from Mr Abney. By paying my premium I should be giving it back to him.