Although I did not understand much about building matters, I knew that builders were speculating men, and speculating men of necessity require money. I consequently accepted Mr. Jollybold’s explanation; but in order to be cautious, I said “I don’t doubt your veracity, Mr. Jollybold, but as we are strangers, I should like to have some corroboration of the particulars as to lease, term, and so on.”
“Do you know Driver and Tartar of Boswell Court?”
“How strange!” I exclaimed. “My aunt’s solicitors!”
“Then you are prepared to credit them?” said Mr. Jollybold. “They are the identical men that prepared these conditions.”
And he took from his pocket the particulars and conditions of sale of Arethusa Villas.
“Oh! then,” I said, “you have offered the property by auction? How was it it did not sell? Your auctioneers are men of celebrity.”
“They have too much business,” said Mr. Jollybold. “They sent a clerk down to look at the property. He made himself jolly at my expense at the Freeholders’ Arms, and at the time of sale the auctioneer himself didn’t know if Arethusa Park was at Highgate or Brixton, and so I lost the sale.”
“Might that be the reason why you put ‘No agent need apply’ in your advertisement?”
“One reason. But I like old Ben Franklin’s maxim—‘If you want a thing done, do it yourself,’—and I know you quite agree with me in this, or you would have sent an agent to negociate for you; instead of which, like a wise man, you make every inquiry yourself and sift things to the bottom, and then have the satisfaction of knowing that you are dealing with an honest man who has nothing to conceal.”
“I confess candidly,” I said, “I am quite a novice in these matters; but every man can make common-sense inquiries and judge for himself.”
“Just so!” replied Mr. Jollybold, “and any man of common sense can understand what is meant by this rigmarole of conditions of sale, although filled with lawyer’s lingo. Here’s the condition for limiting title” (pointing out the clauses to me), “and here’s the clause that the property is sold subject to the mortgage, as I told you. You also notice that what I said of the ground-rent and so on is correct. And so we may as well adjourn to the Freeholders’ Arms and sign the contract.”
“I should like some consideration before doing so,” I said. “I feel disposed to purchase the houses, but if you will allow me, I will take these conditions home with me to look over, and if I think there is nothing objectionable, I doubt not we shall come to terms.”
“Appoint your own time,” said Mr. Jollybold, “but let it be early, as I have a good deal of business to transact.”
“The day after to-morrow?”
“I am afraid,” said Mr. Jollybold, “I couldn’t say that day. Say to-morrow, at your own house. Perhaps you’d give me your address?”
“John Fingudgeon, Cheesemonger, Little Turnwheel Street.”
“To-morrow, ten o’clock,” said Mr. Jollybold, “and I’ll call upon you.”
We shook hands and parted.
“Don’t you think it will be a capital speculation?” said my wife. “And only think how we shall rise in the estimation of our neighbours. I have heard from two or three quarters that people fancy that the legacy was 2000l. at least, and won’t they believe it when they hear we have bought four such large houses? How uncommonly fortunate I noticed the advertisement!”
“I hope it will be all right,” I said; “but I should like somebody’s opinion about this rigmarole of conditions, which I don’t understand.”
“Oh, nonsense, John!” returned my wife. “Why you know that hundreds of houses are sold by auction to people who have never even seen them before, and they are all sold under conditions; besides, Driver and Tartar, your aunt’s solicitors, wouldn’t put in anything but what was quite right and proper, so you needn’t fear anything.”
I saw plainly enough she was looking forward to the important addition to our income of 138l. per annum.
We had scarcely discussed matters thus far when Mr. Jollybold presented himself.
“I quite forgot,” said he, “when you left me, that I had business to transact to-morrow that would prevent my calling upon you, and as a few hours can make no difference, you may as well pay me a deposit of 50l., and settle the matter at once.”
“I would much rather put it off till to-morrow,” I said; “and, in fact, I have not 50l. in the house.”
“It don’t matter, 25l. will do,” said Mr. Jollybold; “just to bind the bargain.”
I hesitated, and advanced various objections, which Mr. Jollybold very readily answered, and in half-an-hour I had signed the conditions to purchase the equity of redemption of Nos. 1 to 4, Arethusa Villas, for 500l. My wife and I retired to rest perfectly satisfied with our day’s work.
The next morning I called on Messrs. Driver and Tartar, in Boswell Court, informed them of my purchase, and asked their opinion of the speculation.
“We don’t know anything except from representation,” said Mr. Driver; “but, as the percentage is large, we should say decidedly it is a good speculation.”
“But is there anything you know of likely to detract from it?” I asked.
“No. For leasehold property, I should say it was good, and you need not trouble yourself about the money being called in. The mortgagee is a wealthy man, and don’t trouble himself all the time the interest is punctually paid.”
I left Mr. Driver doubly satisfied with my speculation. In due time the necessary assignment was prepared, and I entered upon the property. Having to pay 45l. for legal expenses I confess rather astonished me, and, to tell the truth, rather inconvenienced me in my business. I thought the amount large, and told Driver so. (We had agreed that he should act for both parties to save the expense, and he had estimated the
