HERBERT MAKES A CLAIM
Sylvia finished her round of visits in a state approaching insolvency.
Mrs. Kettering, with whom she stayed some time, indulged in expensive
amusements, and though she would have listened with good-humor to a
plea of poverty, Sylvia declined to make it. She would not have Bland
suspect the state of her affairs, and while he remained in the house
she took her part in all that went on, which included card-playing for
high stakes. As it happened, she had a steady run of misfortune.
Bland sympathized with her and occasionally ventured a remonstrance,
but she could see that the cheerful manner in which she faced her
losses had its effect on him.
On the evening of her return, Herbert was strolling along the platform
at a busy junction, in the gathering dusk, when he noticed Bland
speaking to a porter. Soon afterward. Bland came toward him, and
Herbert asked him if he were staying in the neighborhood.
"No," said Bland; "I'm passing through; only been here half an hour.
We're probably on the same errand."
"I came to meet Mrs. Marston," Herbert told him. "And I broke my
journey to town with the idea of being of some assistance when she
changed."
"They don't give one much time here, and it's an awkward station,"
Herbert said, with a careless air.
It struck him that Sylvia's acquaintance with the man must have ripened
rapidly, for he was well informed of her movements; but this was no
concern of his. He had thought for some time that a match between her
and George would be unsuitable. For a while he and Bland talked about
indifferent matters, and then the latter turned to him with a smile.
"I was very lucky at a small steeplechase," he said. "Backed a rank
outsider that only a few friends of mine believed in. Do you know of
anything that's bound to go up on the Stock Exchange? It's in your
line, I think."
"I don't. Such stocks are remarkably scarce. If there's any strong
reason for a rise in value, buyers anticipate it."
"Then perhaps you know of something that has a better chance than the
rest? I expect your tip's worth having."
"You might try--rubber!"
"Rubber? Hasn't that been a little overdone?"
Herbert considered, for this remark confirmed his private opinion.
Rubber shares had been in strong demand, but he thought they would not
continue in general favor. The suggestion made by an outsider might be
supposed to express the view held by small speculators, which had its
effect on the market.
"I gave you my idea, but I can't guarantee success," he said. "You
must use your judgment, and don't blame me if things go wrong."
"Of course not; the risk's mine," returned Bland; and Herbert thought
he meant to follow his advice.
A few minutes later, the train which they were waiting for came in, and
Herbert tactfully stood aside when Bland helped Sylvia to alight.
Watching her face, he concluded by the absence of any sign of surprise
that the meeting had been arranged. Bland, however, had little
opportunity for conversation amid the bustle; and the train was on the
point of starting before Sylvia saw Herbert. He got in as it was
moving, and she looked at him sharply.
"I didn't expect you would meet me."
"So I supposed," he told her.
"Oh, well," she said, smiling, "you might have been useful."
Herbert thought she might have thanked him for coming, considering that
he had, by his wife's orders, made an inconvenient journey; but
gratitude was not one of Sylvia's virtues.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked.
"Yes, on the whole, but I've been dreadfully unlucky. In fact, I'm
threatened by a financial crisis."
Herbert made a rueful grimace.
"I know what that means; I'm getting used to it. But we'll talk the
matter over another time. I suppose I'm neglecting my duties; I ought
to lecture you."
"Isn't Muriel capable of doing all that's necessary in that line?"
"She's hampered by not knowing as much as I do," Herbert retorted with
a meaning smile.
Nothing of moment passed between them during the rest of the journey,
but some time after they reached home Herbert turned to Sylvia, who was
sitting near him, in the absence of his wife.
"You're short of funds again?" he asked.
Sylvia explained her embarrassments, and Herbert looked thoughtful.
"So," he said, "you have spent what George sent, as well as what I
advanced you in anticipation of his next remittance. This can't go on,
you know."
"I'll be very economical for the next few months," Sylvia promised
penitently.
"If you're not, you'll find very stern economy imperative during those
that follow; but I'll let you have a small check before I leave."
Sylvia thanked him and they talked about other matters for a while.
Then he said carelessly:
"There's a favor you could do me. It won't cost you any trouble. A
young man is coming down here next week, and I want you to be as
pleasant as you can and make him enjoy his visit. I'm inclined to
think he'll appreciate any little attention you can show him."
"The last's a cheap compliment," Sylvia rejoined. "Aren't you asking
me to undertake your wife's duty?"
Herbert smiled.
"Not altogether. Muriel's an excellent hostess; she will do her part,
but I want you to assist her. You have exceptional and rather
dangerous gifts."
"Don't go too far," Sylvia warned him. "But I'd better understand the
situation. How long do you expect me to be amiable to the man?"
"Only for a couple of days. He might come down again, but that's not
certain."
Sylvia considered, for she saw what Herbert required. She was to exert
her powers of fascination upon the visitor, in order to make him more
pliable in his host's hands. The task was not a disagreeable one, and
she had foreseen all along that Herbert, in indulging her in various
ways, would look for some return.
"After all," she said, "there's no reason why I should be ungracious to
him, so long as he's pleasant."
Herbert carelessly nodded agreement, but Sylvia knew that he expected
her to carry out his wishes; and she did not find it difficult when the
guest arrived.
Paul Singleton was young, and perhaps unusually susceptible to the
influences brought to bear upon him during his visit. Born with some
talents, in very humble station, he had by means of scholarships
obtained an excellent education, and had devoted himself in particular
to the study of botany. A prosperous man who took an interest in him
sent him out to a tropical plantation, where he wrote a work on the
vegetable product of equatorial regions, which secured him notice.
Indeed, he was beginning to make his mark as an authority on the
subject. So far, however, his life had been one of economy and
self-denial, and although Lansing's dwelling was not characterized by
any very marked signs of culture or luxury, it was different from the
surroundings to which Singleton was accustomed. His hostess was
staidly cordial and at once set him at his ease; Sylvia was a
revelation. Her piquant prettiness and her charm of manner dazzled
him. She played her part well, not merely because she had agreed to do
so, but because it was one that strongly appealed to her nature.
On the second evening of Singleton's visit, he was talking to Sylvia
rather confidentially in the drawing-room, where Mrs. Lansing had left
them, while Herbert was seated at a table in his library with a cigar
in his hand and a litter of papers in front of him. He was thinking
hard, and rubber occupied the foremost place in his mind. He was a
director of a company, formed to exploit a strip of rubber-bearing
territory in the tropics, which had hitherto been successful; but he
felt that it was time to retire from the position and realize the
profit on his shares. There was another company he and some associates
had arranged to launch, but he was now very doubtful whether this would
be wise. Rubber exploitations were overdone; there were signs that
investors were losing their confidence. Withdrawal, however, was
difficult, for it must be quietly effected without breaking prices by
any unusual sales. It was therefore desirable that other holders
should cling to their shares, and any fresh buying by outsiders would,
of course, be so much the better. This was one reason why he had
suggested a purchase to Bland.
Opening a book, he noted the amount of stock standing in George's name.
This had been purchased by Herbert, who had been given such authority
by his cousin at a time when the directors' position needed
strengthening, though it had been necessary to dispose of sound shares,
yielding a small return. The prompt sale of this stock would secure
George a moderate profit, but after some consideration Herbert decided
that it should remain. He had no wish that George should suffer, but
his own interests stood first. Then he carefully studied several
sheets of figures, which confirmed his opinion that a drop in the value
of the stock he owned might be looked for shortly, though he thought
very few people realized this yet. It was time for effective but
cautious action. He must unload as soon as possible.
By and by he rang a bell, and passed across the cigar box when
Singleton came in and sat down opposite him. He was a wiry,
dark-haired man with an intelligent face which had grown rather white
and haggard in the tropics. Just now he felt grateful to his host, who
had made his stay very pleasant and had given him an opportunity for
meeting Sylvia.
"I suppose you have read my report on your new tropical property?" he
said.
"Yes," answered Herbert, picking up a lengthy document. "I've given it
some thought. On the whole, it isn't optimistic."
Singleton pondered this. He had learned a little about company
floating, and was willing to oblige his host as far as he honestly
could. Lansing had enabled him to undertake a search for some rare
examples of tropical flora by paying him a handsome fee for the report.
"Well," he said, "there is some good rubber in your territory, as I
have stated."
"But not readily accessible?"
"I'm afraid I can't say it is."
Herbert smiled at him.
"I'm not suggesting such a course. In asking a man of your character
and attainments to investigate, I was prompted by the desire to get a
reliable report."
Singleton did not know what to make of this; so far as his experience
went, gentlemen who paid for an opinion on the property they meant to
dispose of did not want an unfavorable one.
"The rubber's scattered and grows in awkward places," he explained.
"Precisely." Herbert glanced at the paper. "You mentioned something
of the kind. But what about planting and systematic cultivation?"
"Soil and climate are eminently suitable."
"I gather that there's a difficulty in the way of obtaining native
labor?"
Singleton broke into a grim smile.
"It's a serious one. The natives consider strangers as their lawful
prey, and they lately managed to give a strong punitive expedition a
good deal of trouble. In fact, as they're in a rather restless mood,
the authorities were very dubious about letting me go inland, and in
spite of the care I took, they got two of my colored carriers. Shot
them with little poisoned arrows."
"Ah!" ejaculated Herbert. "Poisoned arrows? That should have a
deterrent effect."
"Singularly so. A slight prick is enough to wipe you out within an
hour. It's merciful the time is so short."
"That," said Herbert, "was not quite what I meant. I was thinking of
the effect upon the gentlemen who wish to launch this company."
"The risk isn't attached to their end of the business," Singleton dryly
pointed out.
Herbert did not answer. While he sat, with knitted brows, turning over
some of the papers in front of him. Singleton looked about. Hitherto
his life had been spent in comfortless and shabby English lodgings, in
the sour steam of tropic swamps, and in galvanized iron factories that
were filled all day with an intolerable heat. As a result of this, his
host's library impressed him. It was spacious and furnished in
excellent taste; a shaded silver lamp stood on the table, diffusing a
restricted light that made the room look larger; a clear wood fire
burned in the grate. The effect of all he saw was tranquilizing; and
the house as a whole, inhabited, as it was, by two charming, cultured
women, struck him as a delightful place of rest. He wondered with
longing whether he would have an opportunity for coming back to it.
Then his host looked up.
"Have you any strong objections to recasting this report?" he asked.
"Don't mistake me. I'm not asking you to color things in any way; I
want simple facts. After what you have told me, I can't consider the
prospects of our working the concessions very favorable."
Singleton was surprised; Lansing's attitude was puzzling, considering
that he had suggested the flotation of the projected company.
"Do you want the drawbacks insisted on?" he asked.
Herbert smiled.
"I don't want them mitigated; state them clearly. Include what you
told me about the trouble with the natives, and the poisoned arrows."
Then a light broke in upon Singleton. He had not placed his host in
the same category with Mrs. Lansing and Sylvia. It looked as if he had
changed his plans and wished to prevent the company from being formed.
This caused Singleton to consider how far he would be justified in
assisting him. He could honestly go some length in doing so, and,
having fallen a victim to Sylvia's charm, he was willing to do his
utmost.
"There's no doubt that some of the facts are discouraging," he said.
Herbert looked at him keenly.
"That is what struck me. Suppose you think the thing over and bring me
down a fresh report a week from to-day. Stay a day or two, if you're
not busy; I can get you some shooting, and we can talk over any points
that seem to require it at leisure."
Singleton sat silent a moment. He wanted to come back, and he did not
believe the concession could be profitably worked by any usual methods.
For all that, he thought he could make something of the property; it
was not altogether worthless, though it would require exceptional
treatment.
"Perhaps that would be better," he replied, "I should be delighted to
make another visit."
Herbert took up the paper and looked at Singleton with a smile as he
flung it into the fire.
"Now I think we'll go down," he said. "Mrs. Lansing will be waiting
for us."
Singleton spent the remainder of the evening with great content,
talking to Sylvia. When she left him, Herbert met her in the hall.
"Thanks," he smiled meaningly. "Did you find the man interesting?"
"To some extent," returned Sylvia; "he's a type that's new to me.
Still, of course, he's a little raw, and inclined to be serious. I
think one could see too much of him."
"He's coming down again in a week."
"Oh!" said Sylvia, with signs of protest. "And after that?"
Herbert laughed.
"I don't think he'll make a third visit."