be wealthy。 After working so hard and undergoing so much that he felt
to be humiliating and even degrading； why should he not take his
reward and clear out afterwards？
This he remembered he could do； since probably by some oversight of
Aylward's； who left such matters to his lawyers； his deed of
partnership did not bind him to a fixed term。 It could be broken at
any moment。 To this argument there was only one possible answer； that
of his conscience。 If once he were convinced that things were not
right； it would be dishonest to participate in their profits。 And he
was convinced。 Mr。 Jackson's arguments and his damning document had
thrown a flood of light upon many matters which he had suspected but
never quite understood。 He was the partner of； well； adventurers； and
the money which he received would in fact be filched from the pockets
of unsuspecting persons。 He would vouch for that of which he was
doubtful and receive the price of sharp practice。 In other words he；
Alan Vernon； who had never uttered a wilful untruth or taken a
halfpenny that was not his own； would before the tribunal of his own
mind； stand convicted as a liar and a thief。 The thing was not to be
borne。 At whatever cost it must be ended。 If he were fated to be a
beggar； at least he would be an honest beggar。
With a firm step and a high head he walked straight into Sir Robert's
room； without even going through the formality of knocking； to find
Mr。 Champers…Haswell seated at the ebony desk by his partner's side
examining some document through a reading…glass； which on his
appearance； was folded over and presently thrust away into a drawer。
It seemed； Alan noticed； to be of an unusual shape and written in some
strange character。
Mr。 Haswell； a stout； jovial…looking； little man with a florid
complexion and white hair； rose at once to greet him。
〃How do you do； Alan；〃 he said in a cheerful voice； for as a cousin by
marriage he called him by his Christian name。 〃I am just this minute
back from Paris； and you will be glad to learn that they are going to
support us very well there； in fact I may say that the Government has
taken up the scheme； of course under the rose。 You know the French
have possessions all along that coast and they won't be sorry to find
an opportunity of stretching out their hand a little further。 Our
difficulties as to capital are at an end； for a full third of it is
guaranteed in Paris； and I expect that small investors and speculators
for the rise will gobble a lot more。 We shall plant ￡10；000；000 worth
of Sahara scrip in sunny France； my boy； and foggy England has
underwritten the rest。 It will be a case of 'letters of Allotment and
regret；' /and/ regret； Alan； financially the most successful issue of
the last dozen years。 What do you say to that？〃 and in his elation the
little man puffed out his chest and pursing up his lips； blew through
them； making a sound like that of wind among wires。
〃I don't know； Mr。 Haswell。 If we are all alive I would prefer to
answer the question twelve months hence； or later； when we see whether
the company is going to be a practical success as well； or not。〃
Again Mr。 Haswell made the sound of wind among wires； only this time
there was a shriller note in it； its mellowness was gone； it was as
though the air had suddenly been filled with frost。
〃A practical success！〃 he repeated after him。 〃That is scarcely our
affair； is it？ Promoters should not bother themselves with long views；
Alan。 These may be left to the investing public； the speculative
parson and the maiden lady who likes a flutterthose props of modern
enterprise。 But what do you mean？ You originated this idea and always
said that the profits should be great。〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Haswell； on a moderate capitalization and provided that we
are sure of the co…operation of the Porte。〃
Mr。 Haswell looked at him very searchingly and Sir Robert； who had
been listening； said in his cold voice：
〃I think that we thrashed out these points long ago； and to tell you
the truth I am rather tired of them； especially as it is too late to
change anything。 How did you get on with Jackson； Vernon？〃
〃I did not get on at all； Sir Robert。 He will not touch the thing on
any terms； and indeed means to oppose it tooth and nail。〃
〃Then he will find himself in a minority when the articles come out
to…morrow。 Of course it is a bore； but we are strong enough to snap
our fingers at him。 You see they don't read /The Judge/ in France； and
no one has ever heard of it in Constantinople。 Therefore we have
nothing to fearso long as we stick together；〃 he added meaningly。
Alan felt that the crisis had come。 He must speak now or for ever hold
his peace； indeed Aylward was already looking round for his hat。
〃Sir Robert and Mr。 Haswell；〃 he broke in rather nervously； 〃I have
something to say to you； something unpleasant；〃 and he paused。
〃Then please say it at once； Vernon。 I want to dress for dinner； I am
going to the theatre to…night and must dine early；〃 replied Aylward in
a voice of the utmost unconcern。
〃It is； Sir Robert；〃 went on Alan with a rush； 〃that I do not like the
lines upon which this business is being worked； and I wish to give up
my interest in it and retire from the firm； as I have a right to do
under our deed of partnership。〃
〃Have you？〃 said Aylward。 〃Really； I forget。 But； my dear fellow； do
not think that we should wish to keep you for one moment against your
will。 Only； might I ask； has that old puritan； Jackson； hypnotized
you； or is it a case of sudden madness after influenza？〃
〃Neither；〃 answered Alan sternly； for although he might be diffident
on matters that he did not thoroughly understand； he was not a man to
brook trifling or impertinence。 〃It is what I have said； no more nor
less。 I am not satisfied either as to the capitalization or as to the
guarantee that the enterprise can be really carried out。 Further〃and
he paused；〃Further； I should like what I have never yet been able to
obtain； more information as to that Firman under which the concession
is granted。〃
For one moment a sort of tremor passed over Sir Robert's impassive
countenance； while Mr。 Haswell uttered his windy whistle； this time in
a tone of plaintive remonstrance。
〃As you have formally resigned your membership of the firm； I do not
see that any useful purpose can be served by discussing such matters。
The fullest explanations； of course； we should have been willing to
give〃
〃My dear Alan；〃 broke in Mr。 Champers…Haswell； who was quite upset； 〃I
do implore you to reflect for one moment； for your own sake。 In a
single week you would have been a wealthy man； do you really mean to
throw away everything for a whim？〃
〃Perhaps Vernon remembers that he holds over 1700 of the Syndicate
shares which we have worked up to ￡18； and thinks it wiser to capture
the profit in sight； generally speaking a very sound principle；〃
interrupted Aylward sarcastically。
〃You are mistaken； Sir Robert；〃 replied Alan； flushing。 〃The way that
those shares have been artificially put up is one of the things to
which I most object。 I shall only ask for mine the face value which I
paid for them。〃
Now notwithstanding their experience； both of the senior partners did
for a moment look rather scared。 Such folly； or such honesty； was
absolutely incredible to them。 They felt that there must be much
behind。 Sir Robert； however； recovered instantly。
〃Very well；〃 he said； 〃it is not for us to dictate to you； you must
make your own bed and lie on it。 To argue or remonstrate would only be
rude。〃 He put out his hand and pushed the button of an electric bell；
adding as he did so； 〃Of course we understand one thing； Vernon；
namely； that as a gentleman and a man of honour you will make no
public use of the information which you have acquired during your stay
in this office； either to our detriment； personal or financial； or to
your own advantage。〃
〃Certainly you may understand that；〃 replied Vernon。 〃Unless my
character is attacked and it becomes necessary for me to defend
myself； my lips are sealed。〃
〃That will never happenwhy should it？〃 said Sir Robert with a polite
bow。
The door opened and the head clerk； Jeffreys； appeared。
〃Mr。 Jeffreys；〃 said Sir Robert； 〃please find us the deed of
partnership between Major Vernon and ourselves； and bring it here。 One
moment。 Please make out also a transfer of Major Vernon's parcel of
Sahara Syndicate shares to Mr。 Champers…Haswell and myself at par
value； and fill in a cheque for the amount。 Please remove also Major
Vernon's name wherever it appears in the proof prospectus； andyes
one thing more。 Telephone to Spectonthe Right Honourable the Earl of
Specton； I mean； and say that after all I have been able to arrange
that he shall have a seat on the Board and a block of shares at a very
moderate figure； and that if he will wire his assent； his name shall
be put into the prospectus。 You approve； don't you； Haswell？yes
then that is all； I think； Jeffreys； only please be as quick as you
can； for I want to get away。〃
Jeffreys； the immaculate and the impassive； bowed； and casting one
swift glance at Vernon out of the corner of his ey