But a higher rise than this was confidently expected, and Taynton, though not really of an over sanguine disposition, certainly hoped to make good the greater part if not all of their somewhat large defalcations.

He had bought an option of 20,000 shares, the option of which cost (or would cost at the end of those months) rather over L10,000.

In other words, the moment that the shares rose to a price higher than L6 3s, all further appreciation was pure gain.

If they did not rise so high, he would of course not exercise the option, and sacrifice the money.
That was certainly a very unpleasant thing to contemplate, but it had been more unpleasant when, so far as he knew, Morris was on the verge of matrimony, and would then step into the management of his own affairs.
But bad though it all was, the situation had certainly been immensely ameliorated this evening, since on the one hand his partner had, it was not unreasonable to hope, said to Madge's father things about Morris that made his marriage with Madge exceedingly unlikely, while on the other hand, even if it happened, his affairs, according to his own wish, would remain in Mr.Taynton's hands with the same completeness as heretofore.
It would, of course, be necessary to pay him his income, and though this would be a great strain on the finances of the two partners, it was manageable.

Besides (Mr.Taynton sincerely hoped that this would not be necessary) the money which was Mrs.Assheton's for her lifetime was in his hands also, so if the worst came to the worst-- Now the composition and nature of the extraordinary animal called man is so unexpected and unlikely that any analysis of Mr.Taynton's character may seem almost grotesque.