'I should think I ought to take care of that.' He squared his shoulders as if he was taking on a great burden. 'And I should also think, from the state of things in these papers, that I had better start immediately. If you can have the train brought up for me, I can be ready to leave by tomorrow morning. I'll pack up enough for the next few months; I am afraid it will take that long to get everything set in order and convince these dullards that although their employer may not be present, he is watching them.'
Cameron nodded, and tried not to look too eager to be rid of the man. 'I hate to do without you, but you are right in thinking that my agent can probably deal with most of the work.' It won't hurt to remind him that the main reason I've kept him on was because he is my Apprentice. 'I'll telegraph my agent and have arrangements made to store what you bring until you notify him that you've found accommodations.' He decided to be generous, and not name an upper limit on du Mond's spending. Frankly, there weren't that many expensive lodgings in Oakland! 'You could take a small house rather than an apartment, if you find one furnished. You might as well hire yourself a servant and a cook as well-no point in you ruining your health by catching bad meals on the waterfront. Maybe a horse so you won't need cabs, if you find a place with stabling nearby. Once you've made all your arrangements, send the bills to me.'
He didn't even want to name an upper limit; getting rid of du Mond was worth just about any price. In fact-if the man actually made a success of this, even a moderate success, there was no reason why he couldn't acquire another business somewhere and send him off with a promotion and a raise in the form of part-ownership of the firm! Much better than doing away with him-the Salamanders really didn't like to incinerate people, and he had a notion that Rose would hardly approve, though she didn't like the man either.
Perhaps I could buy a small rail company or shipping concern in the Far East or India? Or Tahiti or the South Seas? Something far away and in a place guaranteed to indulge all of his worst vices, and with a climate that will encourage him to his natural laziness. Then, when the venture fails, I will have the excuse to cut him off without a ticket back.
And if, against all probabilities, he succeeded, Cameron could reward him with full ownership, cutting him loose to work on his own. Why not? He could afford to be generous.
'Right, then-as usual, you'll find the cash you'll need for immediate expenses in the safe on the train,' he said briskly. 'You might as well take my leather luggage and steamer trunks from the last ocean trip; I think they're in storage in the stable. I'll telegraph my San Francisco agent and authorize the rest of your expenses with him; he'll see to it that you have all the bona-fides you need to establish your authority with the Oakland firm. Can I expect you to be in the saddle by the day after tomorrow?'
Du Mond smiled thinly. 'I don't see why not. I can take a suite in a hotel until I find a permanent place but I don't really expect that to take more than a week. Put your mind at rest, Jason. The situation will be taken care of.'
'Oh?' he replied. 'You sound very sure of yourself.'
Du Mond's smile widened until he looked very like the proverbial cat who stole the cream. 'I am,' he said softly. 'In fact, I think you'll be surprised.'
Cameron could no longer raise his eyebrows, but he conveyed a certain skepticism in his voice. 'Really?'
'Really.' Paul du Mond chuckled and rose to his feet. He stopped at the door for a parting shot. 'I've decided to take this as a personal cause, something to be the stepping-stone to great success. I promise you,' he continued, in a satisfied tone as he opened the door and left, 'I intend to use this as the opportunity to show you just what I'm capable of.'
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Rose pulled a wayward strand of hair behind her ear and took a tighter grip on her piece of soft chalk. She had never much favored the rather risque costume for women espoused by Amanda Bloomer, but she had asked Jason for permission to order one on the chance that she might need it, and it was proving invaluable today. It might be immodest and not at all modish, but she could never have drawn these chalk diagrams on the slate floor of Jason's workroom if she had been wearing any kind of skirt. She would have found it difficult to get down on her hands and knees, and the voluminous skirts and dragging hems would have been in danger of erasing much of her work.
I do wish I could do this drawing unsupervised, however. I feel like a hoyden. Casting a glance over her shoulder, she noted that Jason was not looking at her, but at the last piece of the design she had finished. At least all that he said was, 'how very practical.' She consoled herself with the undoubted fact that she was no more exposed than if she had been wearing a modern bathing-costume. And certainly Jason had seen far more female flesh exposed on the stage in this city, Good heavens, the minuscule dresses worn by the corps de ballet at the Opera covered less than this! And those were prim compared to the tiny costumes espoused by the dancers in music-halls.
