The Forsyte Saga - Volume 3 - Page 118/204

"Gradman! I don't like the condition of the country; there are a lot of

people about without any common sense. I want to find a way by which I

can safeguard Miss Fleur against anything which might arise."

Gradman wrote the figure "2" on his blotting-paper.

"Ye-es," he said; "there's a nahsty spirit."

"The ordinary restraint against anticipation doesn't meet the case."

"Nao," said Gradman.

"Suppose those Labour fellows come in, or worse! It's these people with

fixed ideas who are the danger. Look at Ireland!"

"Ah!" said Gradman.

"Suppose I were to make a settlement on her at once with myself as

beneficiary for life, they couldn't take anything but the interest from

me, unless of course they alter the law."

Gradman moved his head and smiled.

"Ah!" he said, "they wouldn't do tha-at!"

"I don't know," muttered Soames; "I don't trust them."

"It'll take two years, sir, to be valid against death duties."

Soames sniffed. Two years! He was only sixty-five!

"That's not the point. Draw a form of settlement that passes all my

property to Miss Fleur's children in equal shares, with antecedent

life-interests first to myself and then to her without power of

anticipation, and add a clause that in the event of anything happening

to divert her life-interest, that interest passes to the trustees, to

apply for her benefit, in their absolute discretion."

Gradman grated: "Rather extreme at your age, sir; you lose control."

"That's my business," said Soames sharply.

Gradman wrote on a piece of paper: "Life-interest--anticipation--divert

interest--absolute discretion...." and said:

"What trustees? There's young Mr. Kingson; he's a nice steady young

fellow."

"Yes, he might do for one. I must have three. There isn't a Forsyte now

who appeals to me."

"Not young Mr. Nicholas? He's at the Bar. We've given 'im briefs."

"He'll never set the Thames on fire," said Soames.

A smile oozed out on Gradman's face, greasy from countless mutton-chops,

the smile of a man who sits all day.

"You can't expect it, at his age, Mr. Soames."

"Why? What is he? Forty?"

"Ye-es, quite a young fellow."

"Well, put him in; but I want somebody who'll take a personal interest.

There's no one that I can see."

"What about Mr. Valerius, now he's come home?"

"Val Dartie? With that father?"

"We-ell," murmured Gradman, "he's been dead seven years--the Statute

runs against him."

"No," said Soames. "I don't like the connection." He rose. Gradman said

suddenly:

"If they were makin' a levy on capital, they could come on the trustees,

sir. So there you'd be just the same. I'd think it over, if I were you."

"That's true," said Soames. "I will. What have you done about that

dilapidation notice in Vere Street?"