The Opposite House: A Novel — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Opposite Flouse. Ty at that time his mind was occupied with the beau- tiful ballet-dancer who had driven out in that direc- tion. What had he cared for the mills then? He received the income from them, and often wondered why it grew smaller every year; but he had never thought of it long. Why should he? He had so many other things on his mind. Now he recollected these mills, and much as he had formerly neglected them they now completely absorbed his attention. He remembered that he had once been told that their management and oversight was in lax hands. He perceived that it was his duty to arrange and look after affairsthere. He admitted that as owner and master he was responsible for his property. Ele rode out that very day. True, the men stared at him when he entered so resolutely to assert his rights as master. Most of them scarcely knew him, and the superintendent appeared by no means disposed to yield to him. Ife had probably formed quite a different idea of the owner from the man who stood so proudly be. fore him, and was not prepared for the searching examination to which Gerrald subjected him. A perfect chaos of fraud and embezzlement was revealed to Traugott’s keen eyes. Imperfect, care. lessly kept books and accounts greeted him with mute reproach ; everywhere he encountered errors CoOmicbooolk<s C@ 5}