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9 August 1898 — Branksome Dene, Poole, Dorset | |
Tuesday. [9th August 1898]. I left by the 11 train for London vis S’hampton. Merthyr came to the station to see me off & said a few more words on the “loan” subject. At Basingstoke I left the train & after waiting about 10 minutes got into the train from Templecombe by wh Rhuvon was travelling up to town & we got into an empty 1st class carriage. We at once fell to discussing the subject for wh we met. I returned Rhuvon his papers wh he had given me to read. He at once began a very bitter speech against Merthyr, said he had allowed him to sign a deed wh he as a trustee of the settlements knew he wd never be able to pay—& said that tho’ he accepted the responsibility of the debt—he never meant to pay the interest & could not do so. I found him most obstinate & unreasonable. He said he wd accept no favors from Merthyr & never asked for them. I told him I could hardly believe that he Rhuvon had not understood what he was signing– I managed to speak out the truth to him—to point out that he was only bringing dishonor on his father’s name &c &c & did not quarrel with him tho’ once or twice I got very hot. When we got to Waterloo Station I kissed him & said he must not be angry if I had argued with him. He said he should never forget my kindness & we parted. I got into a hansom & drove at once to Gray’s Inn to see Richard Du Cane to whom I had telegraphed to expect me. I found him there & told him of my conversation with Rhuvon & said I was anxious to know whether Merthyr had been behaving so badly as Rhuvon had made out to me. I was much consoled when he said that on the contrary Merthyr had been ready to come to an arrangement but that Rhuvon & his lawyer & advisors (Adeline & her family) had egged him on & prevented it. Merthyr had lent Arthur money & simply wanted it back or the interest on it kept up. I offered to pay £5000 to Merthyr to diminish the debt but Rd wouldn’t hear of it. After seeing Richard I saw his son Louis & then walked to King’s Cross station & took the 4.30 train to Hatfield expecting to find Nellie there—I found an empty house. Monty Alderson was away & did not return till 10 P.M. I had a disturbed & worried night. | |
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