"Please, take whatever position you feel is less strained," he told her earnestly. "You read better when you are at ease. And I can certainly bear a few footmarks upon the furniture."
"It is a terrible habit from my childhood, and one my father never insisted that I break," she confessed. "It is hardly ladylike."
"I did not engage you for your deportment and posture, Rose," he reminded her. "I engaged you for your knowledge and your mind. I would not care if you read like a contortionist in a circus, with both of your feet placed on the back of your head!"
She laughed, as he had hoped she would, and picked up the next book without prompting. She paid no more attention to him or to his terrible face than if he had been his old self—nor did she evidence any more fear of him.
I believe that this is going to work out after all, he thought with utter astonishment. By George, she has surprised me again!
It was just as well that the situation with Rose was going as well as it was, because within a week, Paul brought him a file on Golden Gate Shipping that was enough to fray his temper to the breaking point before he was through with it.
"How did things deteriorate like this?" he exploded, as du Mond waited patiently for him to finish going through the papers. The secretary just shrugged.
"It seems to have mostly blown up over the last week or so," the man said. "You've sent corrective instructions, but they seem to have bungled them. And quite frankly, it would never have gotten this way if you had an agent there. If you want my opinion—" he paused, waiting expectantly.
"Go on," Cameron growled.
"Well, I think the trouble is that the men over there are the kind that absolutely require someone watching them. Some people are that way; leave them alone for a moment, and they'll botch everything, but keep an eye on them and they do fine." He shrugged. "I can't explain it, but you must have seen cases like this before."
Unfortunately, he had, all too often. Why it was that men seemed to take the absence of the boss for the signal to laze about and make mistakes of carelessness, he had no idea. "So the point is, I need an agent in Oakland, quickly," he growled in irritation. "Unfortunately, I haven't anyone to spare—"
Except that I have been trying to think of a way to get him out of the house so that Rose and I can Work without having to conceal it from him! I don't suppose—
"I—I suppose I could go," du Mond said reluctantly, in an uncanny echo of his own thoughts. "Quite frankly, Jason, there is very little secretarial work for me lately. Your circle of acquaintances seems to have gotten the idea that they are not going to pry you out of your reclusive retreat—and as for business matters, you have always taken care of most of them yourself, and your agent in San Francisco can handle what I have been dealing with. I believe I can straighten out this little tangle in fairly short order, and keep a new one from appearing with a firm hand on the reins."
Oh, this was almost too perfect to be believed! But why would du Mond, who Cameron knew was lazy by nature, want to take on something that would entail real work?
"Quite frankly, Jason, this quiet house is driving me crazy," the man went on. "Since your accident, there has been nothing for an active man to do here, and no company unless I go down into Pacifica for it. And that prim little stick of a scholar of yours is hardly what I would call company. I think that may be why I've fallen back on my Magickal studies. Perhaps if I can get out among people again, I'll be less distracted by boredom, better able to settle down to my Magickal work as well."
Not likely—but possible, I will grant that. And it gives me the excuse I have been searching for to get rid of the blackguard. Cynically, he would allow that du Mond's motivation for volunteering was probably the genuine one he had stated—he wanted out, back in a position where he had ready access to the city, the Barbary Coast, and the pleasures he was doing without. The presence of Rose Hawkins, who made no effort to conceal the fact that she did not like him, was probably salt in the wounds of his "deprivation."
"You'll have to live in Oakland," Cameron pointed out. "Assuming you could even get a ferry at the hours you'll need to travel, you'd waste more time traveling to and from the townhouse than is reasonable. My agent should be able to find an apartment for you."
"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."