Edward Drake walked the whole way back from Park Lane to Whitechapel.
He was one of the many men whose brains work more quickly when the
limbs are in motion, and he had much to occupy his thoughts. At first
sight it seemed ludicrous to imagine that Gaunt would fulfill a
resolution made under such circumstances. The issue was stupendous,
and would change his life in every detail if it were carried out
conscientiously. But although he had known Gaunt for a short time,
he had come to the conclusion that Gaunt was a man of no ordinary
character. Most men would have calmly forgotten their promise, and it
was to his credit that he had remembered it seriously. In addition,
Gaunt had sent for him, and had made a proposal in a quiet businesslike
manner. Therefore to all appearances he had decided to keep his side of
the bargain.
Before he had reached home Drake had decided that Gaunt’s offer was
honestly meant, and that it was not merely a salve to his conscience,
to be thrown aside at the first opportunity.
There were people waiting in his house, and it was typical of the man
that he at once started work, and for the time, dismissed from his mind
the subject that had been engrossing him. It was late before he had
finished, and after supper he settled himself comfortably before the
fire, for the purpose of thoroughly thrashing out the problem.
Curiously enough he imagined that he could see in the brightly burning
coals a face, and it was not that of Gaunt, but of Lady Ethel. A smile
twitched at his mouth for it was pleasant to remember so radiant a
young beauty. Of women Drake knew nothing, for as a youth he had been
too shy to enjoy their company; and the shyness had only vanished after
he had become acquainted with so many real tragedies of life. One who
lives habitually in the midst of intense human suffering must naturally
lose all consciousness of self.
He found it quite an effort to banish the memory of her from his mind,
and to concentrate his thoughts upon the problem before him.
It was true that Edward Drake was a Priest in Holy Orders, but above
all he was a Christian and to him creeds were of little value. It was
his honest endeavor to live as he believed Christ would have him live.
His ambition was to do the greatest amount of good to the greatest
number of people in the time that was at his disposal. His work in the
East End was of benefit to many, but he believed that there were others
who could carry it on as efficiently as himself. Therefore he was in no
way tied to it. Having settled this to his own satisfaction, the next
question concerned the seriousness of the intentions of John Gaunt.
If the millionaire meant what he had said at their interview, there
could be no doubt that it was his duty to help him to carry out his
intentions to the best of his ability.
It was not only John Gaunt’s honor to be considered, but the power
and influence of his millions. With such wealth behind him there was
no limit to the benefits which might be conferred on the poor and
suffering.
Drake’s face grew very grave when he remembered the one subject that
was wont to fire him with the fiercest indignation—the Congo Free
State—and the abominable atrocities that were being committed there.
John Gaunt’s wealth was founded on the tortured labor of the natives of
West Africa, and John Gaunt had vowed to right the wrongs that he had
committed.
Drake jumped up and began to pace restlessly to and fro.
“I will be this man’s servant. I will endeavor to direct him in the way
he should go,” he said, and his voice was filled with a grim resolve.
He knelt beside the chair and prayed for guidance, and when he rose to
his feet there was a glad light in his eyes. It was the face of a born
fighter—a face ablaze with enthusiasm for a good cause. And now his
only fear was that John Gaunt would not have the strength to fulfill
his vow. But his fears grew less when he remembered the impression that
the millionaire had made upon him.
When he awakened in the morning, it was with the feeling that something
good had happened, and he rushed through his work as quickly as
possible. It was twelve o’clock when he reached Gaunt’s office, and as
soon as he arrived he was conducted into the private office. Gaunt rose
to receive him, and held out his hand.
“Have you decided?” he asked quickly.
“Yes, Mr. Gaunt. I am your man. But first I would ask you one question.
Have you thoroughly weighed the consequences? Are you prepared to go
through with it at any cost?” Drake asked earnestly.
“I intend to keep my promise,” Gaunt answered doggedly. “I am beginning
to appreciate that the thing is even bigger than I had imagined. What
is it, Foster?” he asked irritably of his secretary who had brought to
him a slip of paper.
“Ah—Mr. Weiss. Ask him in,” he said when he had glanced at the name.
“Will you see him while this gentleman is here?” Foster asked quickly.
“Yes,” Gaunt rejoined curtly, and then turned to Drake.
“I think this will be the first example of what I shall have to put
up with. Listen to what we say, and Weiss will probably make things
clear to you. I had better warn you that personally I come out of this
business rather badly,” he wound up with a grim smile.
Weiss entered, and his face bore an affable smile.
“Well, Mr. Gaunt, I think we’ve done pretty fair out of that deal. What
price did you get?” he asked.
“It’s no use beating about the bush, Weiss, but I don’t think you are
going to get one penny piece out of the Amanti profits. It all depends
upon this gentleman’s decision when he has heard the facts,” Gaunt said
pleasantly.
Weiss started to his feet, his face ablaze with indignation and fear.
“I don’t know anything about this gentleman. I know I want a check, and
I’m going to have it, unless you’ve turned thief,” he cried furiously.
“Listen to me and I will explain,” Gaunt answered suavely, and he
exchanged a significant look with Drake.
“A short time ago,” Gaunt continued quietly, “Mr. Weiss and his two
friends came to me and suggested a deal in Amantis. At the outset
I suspected that there was something wrong, for neither of those
gentlemen is a philanthropist, and if all had been straightforward,
there was no reason to ask me to participate in their scheme. As a
matter of fact, it had been arranged that a forged cable should be sent
from the mines announcing a fresh and valuable discovery of gold—and we
were to take our profits on the rise which would naturally ensue. This
has been done, and I reckon that about twenty odd thousand pounds have
been cleared. Do I make myself quite clear, Drake?”
“I don’t see how our business concerns this gentleman,” Weiss cried
truculently. “Give me the check and let me go.”
“Have I made a fair statement of the case?” asked Gaunt.
Edward Drake was watching the scene with keen interest, and he was
wondering what Gaunt would decide to do. It was quite clear that this
enormous profit had been procured by fraud, and this would be a test of
the strength of the Vow.
Weiss was beside himself with rage and amazement so that for a while
he was incapable of speech, but soon he grew calmer and told himself
reassuringly that this was but a joke that was being played upon him.
“Look here, Gaunt; this has gone far enough. You know that my time is
valuable and I want to get off. Just calculate our share and let me
have a check like a good fellow,” he said with a cheerfulness that he
was far from feeling.
“I don’t intend to keep the profits, neither do I intend that you shall
touch one penny piece of them. Look in to-morrow’s _Times_ and you will
see an announcement that will interest you,” Gaunt said pleasantly.
Now Weiss realized that it was no pleasantry and his voice became loud
and there was menace in his eyes.
“Very well, Gaunt. It’s no use discussing it further just now, but
I’ll just say that if I don’t get a check in the course of a week,
I’ll make things pretty hot for you. It seems to me that you are not
yourself this morning, and it’s only fair to give you a little time for
consideration. I can be a dangerous enemy as you’ll find out. Good-day.
Come along,” he said to his friends, and they followed him obediently.
Drake drew a deep breath when they had gone but made no remark,
although there was an inquiring expression in his eyes that brought a
smile to Gaunt’s face. The latter touched the bell, and Foster entered,
note-book in hand.
“Take down this letter,” he said sharply. “‘To the secretary of
the King’s Hospital Fund—I have pleasure in enclosing a check for
twenty’—let me see, what are the exact figures?—‘twenty-nine thousand,
three hundred and fifty pounds for the benefit of the Fund. This is a
gift from Mr. Julian Weiss and two friends, and I shall esteem it a
favor if you will acknowledge the receipt of same in to-morrow’s issue
of the _Times_. I do not wish my own name to appear in the matter.’
Have that typed at once and send it off by hand. How will that do?”
Gaunt asked turning to Drake.
“It seems to be one way out of the difficulty—but what about the
holders of the shares who have sold on the strength of the forged
cable? Surely they ought to be considered?” Drake said thoughtfully.
“Ah—that didn’t occur to me. But still, I’ll send the check off. I
promised Weiss something interesting in the _Times_ to-morrow and
he shall have it. As to the owners of the shares, I’ll instruct the
brokers to offer them back at the price they sold to me, but I’m afraid
that they will think me mad,” Gaunt said ruefully.
But there was a smile on his face when he rose.
“I am rather enjoying this experience—up to the present. But enough of
business for to-day. Come with me to Park Lane, and we’ll have a long
talk after lunch. I want your advice on many matters. By the bye, I
hope you have decided to reside with us?” Gaunt asked abruptly.
“Yes—but not until I have got everything into working order at home.”
“How long will that take?”
“About a week, but for some time to come I must continue to visit the
East End,” Drake answered, and then suddenly burst into a fit of hearty
laughter.
“What amuses you?” Gaunt asked drily.
“Only the memory of Mr. Weiss’s face. I am afraid that he received a
terrible shock.”
“Which to-morrow’s announcement will intensify. By the bye, what do you
think of me now? You must realize that I was a participator in a fraud,
and had it not been for this Vow, I should have taken my share of the
‘swag.’ Don’t try to mince matters, and if the discovery has made any
difference do not hesitate to say so,” Gaunt said grimly.
Drake did not answer for a moment and his expression was very grave.
“I never imagined that you were a saint, neither had I thought you
capable of an act which amounts to pure and simple theft. You see I am
speaking frankly, but still I think you are serious in your intention
to perform your vow; therefore everything of the kind in the future
becomes impossible,” he said in a low voice.
“I am glad that you look at it in that way, for there’s much worse in
store. That is if I am to do the thing conscientiously. To begin with
there’s the Congo, and I intend to tell you the truth—the truth,” Gaunt
repeated emphatically.
Drake shuddered and some of the color left his face.