accept this？I wish I could make it more；〃 and he presented him with
ten shillings。
The Sergeant drew himself up and saluted。
〃Thank you kindly； Major；〃 he said。 〃I'd rather take that from you
than ￡10 from the other gentlemen。 But； Major； I wish we were out on
the West Coast again together。 It's a stinking； barbarous hole； but
not so bad as this 'ere city。〃
For once these two had served as comrades； and it was through Alan
that the sergeant obtained his present lucrative but somewhat
uncongenial post。
He was outside at last。 The massive granite portal vanished behind him
in the evening mists； much as a nightmare vanishes。 He； Alan Vernon；
who for a year or more had been in bondage； was a free man again。 All
his dreams of wealth had departed； indeed if anything； save in
experience； he was poorer than when first the shadow of yonder doorway
fell upon him。 But at least he was safe； safe。 The deed of partnership
which had been as a chain about his neck； was now white ashes； his
name was erased from that fearful prospectus of Sahara Limited；
wherein millions which someone would provide were spoken of like
silver in the days of Solomon； as things of no account。 The bitterest
critic could not say that he had made a halfpenny out of the venture；
in fact； if trouble came； his voluntary abandonment of the profits due
to him must go to his credit。 He had plunged into the icy waters of
renunciation and come up clean if naked。 Never since he was a boy
could Alan remember feeling so utterly light…hearted and free from
anxiety。 Not for a million pounds would he have returned to gather
gold in that mausoleum of reputations。 As for the future； he did not
in the least care what happened。 There was no one dependent on him；
and in this way or in that he could always earn a crust； a nice；
honest crust。
He ran down the street and danced for joy like a child； yes； and
presented a crossing…sweeper against whom he butted with a whole
sixpence in compensation。 Thus he reached the Mansion House； not
unsuspected of inebriety by the police； and clambered to the top of a
bus crowded with weary and anxious…looking City clerks returning home
after a long day's labour at starvation wage。 In that cold company and
a chilling atmosphere some of his enthusiasm evaporated。 He remembered
that this step of his meant that sooner or later； within a year or two
at most； Yarleys； where his family had dwelt for centuries； must go to
the hammer。 Why had he not accepted Aylward's offer and sold that old
fetish to him for ￡17；000？ There was no question of share…dealing
there； and if a very wealthy man chose to give a fancy price for a
curiosity； he could take it without doubt or shame。 At least it would
have sufficed to save Yarleys； which after all was only mortgaged for
￡20；000。 For the life of him he could not tell。 He had acted on
impulse； a very curious impulse； and there was an end of it perhaps；
it might be because his uncle had told him as a boy that the thing was
unique； or perhaps because old Jeekie； his negro servant； venerated it
so much and swore that it was 〃lucky。〃 At any rate he had declined and
there was an end。
But another and a graver matter remained。 He had desired wealth to
save Yarleys； but he desired it still more for a different purpose。
Above everything on earth he loved Barbara； his distant cousin and the
niece of Mr。 Champers…Haswell； who until an hour ago had been his
partner。 Now she was a great heiress； and without fortune he could not
marry her； even if she would marry him； which remained in doubt。 For
one thing her uncle and guardian Haswell； under her father's will； had
absolute discretion in this matter until she reached the age of
twenty…five； and for another he was too proud。 Therefore it would seem
that in abandoning his business； he had abandoned his chance of
Barbara also； which was a truly dreadful thought。
Well； it was in order that he might see her； that he had agreed to
visit The Court on the morrow； even though it meant a meeting with his
late partners； who were the last people with whom he desired to
foregather again so soon。 Then and there he made up his mind that
before he bade Barbara farewell； he would tell her the whole story； so
that she might not misjudge him。 After that he would go off somewhere
to Africa perhaps。 Meanwhile he was quite tired out； as tired as
though he had lain a week in the grip of fever。 He must eat some food
and get to bed。 Sufficient unto the day was the evil thereof； yet on
the whole he blessed the name of Jackson； editor of /The Judge/ and
his father's old friend。
When Alan had left the office Sir Robert turned to Mr。 Champers…
Haswell and asked him abruptly； 〃What the devil does this mean？〃
Mr。 Haswell looked up at the ceiling and whistled in his own peculiar
fashion； then answered：
〃I cannot say for certain； but our young friend's strange conduct
seems to suggest that he has smelt a rat； possibly even that Jackson；
the old beast； has shown him a ratof a large Turkish breed。〃
Sir Robert nodded。
〃Vernon is a fellow who doesn't like rats； they seem to haunt his
sleep；〃 he said； 〃but do you think that having seen it； he will keep
it in the bag？〃
〃Oh！ certainly； certainly；〃 answered Mr。 Haswell with cheerfulness；
〃the man is the soul of honour； he will never give us away。 Look how
he behaved about those shares。 Still； I think that perhaps we are well
rid of him。 Too much honour； like too much zeal； is a very dangerous
quality in any business。〃
〃I don't know that I agree with you；〃 answered Sir Robert。 〃I am not
sure that in the long run we should not do better for a little more of
the article。 For my part； although it will not hurt us publicly； for
the thing will never be noticed； I am sorry that we have lost Vernon；
very sorry indeed。 I don't think him a fool； and awkward as they may
be； I respect his qualities。〃
〃So do I； so do I；〃 answered Mr。 Haswell； 〃and of course we have acted
against his advice throughout； which must have been annoying to him。
The scheme as he suggested it was a fair business proposition that
might have paid ten per cent。 on a small capital； but what is the good
of ten per cent。 to you and me？ We want millions and we are going to
get them。 Well； he is coming to The Court to…morrow； and perhaps after
all we shall be able to arrange matters。 I'll give Barbara a hint； she
has great influence with him； and you might do the same； Aylward。〃
〃Miss Champers has great influence with everyone who is fortunate
enough to know her；〃 answered Sir Robert courteously。 〃But even if she
chooses to use it； I doubt if it will avail in this case。 Vernon has
been making up his mind for a long while。 I have watched him and am
sure of that。 To…night he determined to take the plunge and I do not
think that we shall see any more of him in this office。 Haswell；〃 he
added with sudden energy； 〃I tell you that of late our luck has been
too good to last。 The boom； the real boom； came in with Vernon； and
with Vernon I think that it will go。〃
〃At any rate it must leave something pretty substantial behind it this
time； Aylward； my friend。 Whatever happens； within a week we shall be
rich； really rich for life。〃
〃For life； Haswell； yes； for life。 But what is life？ A bubble that any
pin may prick。 Oh！ I know that you do not like the subject； but it is
as well to look it in the face sometimes。 I'm no church…goer； but if I
remember right we were taught to pray the good Lord to deliver us
especially 'in all times of our wealth；' which is followed by
something about tribulation and sudden death； for when they wrote that
prayer the wheel of human fortune went round just as it does to…day。
There； let's get out of this before I grow superstitious； as men who
believe in nothing sometimes do； because after all they must believe
in something； I suppose。 Got your hat and coat？ So have I； come on；〃
and he switched off the light； so that the room was left in darkness
except for the faint glimmering of the fire。
His partner grumbled audibly； for in turning he had knocked his hand
against the desk。
〃Leave me my only economy； Haswell；〃 he answered with a hard little
laugh。 〃Electricity is strength and I hate to see strength burning to
waste。 Why do you mind？〃 he went on as he stepped towards the door。
〃Is it the contrast？ In all times of our wealth； in all times of our
tribulation； from sickness and from sudden death〃
〃Good Lord deliver us；〃 chimed in Mr。 Haswell in a shaking voice
behind him。 〃What the devil's that？〃
Sir Robert looked round and saw； or thought that he saw； something
very strange。 From the pillar on which it stood the golden fetish with
a woman's face； appeared to have floated。 The firelight showed it
gliding towards them across； but a few inches above the floor of the
great room。 It came very slowly； but it came。 Now it reached them and
paused； and now it rose into the air until it attained the height of
Mr。 Champers…Haswell and stayed there； staring into his face and not a
hand's breadth away； just as though it were a real woman glaring at
him。
He uttered a sound； half whistle and half groan； and fell back； as it
chanced on to a