A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING.
The revelation of the real state of the firm's finances was a terrible
blow to Ezra Girdlestone. To a man of his overbearing, tempestuous
disposition failure and poverty were bitter things to face. He had been
wont to tread down before him all such little difficulties and obstacles
as came across him in his former life. Now he encountered a great
barrier which could not be passed so easily, and he raged and chafed
before it. It made him still more wroth to think that the fault was
none of his. All his life he had reckoned, as a matter of course, that
when his father passed away he would be left almost a millionaire. A
single half-hour's conversation had shattered this delusion and left him
face to face with ruin. He lost his sleep and became restless and
hollow-eyed. Once or twice he was seen the worse for drink in the
daytime.
He was a man of strong character, however, and though somewhat
demoralized by the sudden shock, he threw away no point in the game
which he and his father were playing. He saw clearly that only a bold
stroke could save them. He therefore threw himself heart and soul into
the diamond scheme, and worked out the details in a masterly manner.
The more he looked into it the more convinced he became, not only of its
feasibility, but of its absolute safety. It seemed as though it were
hardly possible that it should fail.
Among other things he proceeded to qualify himself as a dealer in
diamonds. It happened that he was acquainted with one of the partners
of the firm of Fugger & Stoltz, who did the largest import trade in
precious stones. Through his kindness he received practical
instructions in the variety and value of diamonds, and learned to detect
all those little flaws and peculiarities which are only visible to the
eye of an expert, and yet are of the highest importance in determinating
the price of a stone. With such opportunities Ezra made rapid progress,
and within a few weeks there were not many dealers in the trade who had
a better grasp of the subject.
Both the Girdlestones recognized that the success of their plan depended
very largely upon their choice of an agent, and both were of the opinion
that in Major Tobias Clutterbuck they had just the man that they were in
want of. The younger merchant had long felt vaguely that the major's
social position, combined with his impecuniosity and the looseness of
his morality, as inferred from his mode of life, might some day make him
a valuable agent under delicate circumstances. As to the old soldier's
own inclinations, Ezra flattered himself that he knew the man's nature
to a nicety. It was simply a question of the price to be paid. No
doubt the figure would be substantial, but he recognized with a trader's
instinct that the article was a superior one, and he was content to
allow for the quality in estimating the value.
Early one April afternoon the major was strutting down St. James's
Street, frock-coated and kid-gloved, with protuberant chest and
glittering shoes which peeped out from beneath the daintiest of gaiters.
Young Girdlestone, who had been on the look-out from a club window, ran
across and intercepted him.
"How are you, my dear major?" he cried, advancing upon him with
outstretched hand and as much show of geniality as his nature permitted.
"How d'ye do? How d'ye do?" said the other somewhat pompously. He had
made up his mind that nothing was to be done with the young man, and yet
he was reluctant to break entirely with one whose purse was well lined
and who had sporting proclivities.
"I've been wishing to speak with you for some days, major," said Ezra.
"When could I see you?"
"You'll niver see me any plainer than you do at this very moment," the
old soldier answered, taking a sidelong glance of suspicion at his
companion.
"Ah, but I wish to speak to you quietly on a matter of business," the
young merchant persisted. "It's a delicate matter which may need some
talking over, and, above all, it is a private matter."
"Ged!" said the major, with a wheezy laugh, "you'd have thought I
wanted to borrow money if I had said as much. Look here now, we'll go
into White's private billiard-room, and I'll let you have two hunthred
out of five for a tinner--though it's as good as handing you the money
to offer you such odds. You can talk this over while we play."
"No, no, major," urged the junior partner. "I tell you it is a matter
of the greatest importance to both of us. Can you meet me at Nelson's
Cafe at four o'clock? I know the manager, and he'll let us have a
private room."
"I'd ask you round to me own little place," the major said, "but it's
rather too far. Nelson's at four. Right you are! 'Punctuality is next
to godliness,' as ould Willoughby of the Buffs used to say. You didn't
know Willoughby, eh? Gad, he was second to a man at Gib in '47.
He brought his man on the ground, but the opponents didn't turn up.
Two minutes after time Willoughby wanted his man to leave. 'Teach 'em
punctuality,' he said. 'Can't be done,' said his man. '_Must_ be
done,' said Willoughby. 'Out of the question,' said the man, and
wouldn't budge. Willoughby persisted; there were high words and a
quarrel. The docther put 'em up at fifteen paces, and the man shot
Willoughby through the calf of the leg. He was a martyr to punctuality.
Four o'clock-bye, bye!" The major nodded pleasantly and swaggered away,
flourishing his little cane jauntily in the air.
In spite of his admiration of punctuality, as exemplified in the person
of Willoughby of the Buffs, the major took good care to arrive at the
trysting-place somewhat behind the appointed time. It was clear to him
that some service or other was expected of him, and it was obviously his
game therefore to hang back and not appear to be too eager to enter into
young Girdlestone's views. When he presented himself at the entrance of
Nelson's Cafe the young merchant had been fuming and chafing in the
sitting-room for five and twenty minutes.
It was a dingy apartment, with a single large horse-hair chair and half
a dozen small wooden dittoes, placed with mathematical precision along
the walls. A square table in the centre and a shabby mirror over the
mantelpiece completed the furniture. With the instinct of an old
campaigner the major immediately dropped into the arm-chair, and,
leaning luxuriously back, took a cigar from his case and proceeded to
light it. Ezra Girdlestone seated himself near the table and twisted
his dark moustache, as was his habit when collecting himself.
"What will you drink?" he asked,
"Anything that's going."
"Fetch in a decanter of brandy and some seltzer water," said Ezra to the
waiter; "then shut the door and leave us entirely to ourselves."
When the liquor was placed upon the table he drank off his first glass
at a gulp, and then refilled it. The major placed his upon the
mantelpiece beside him without tasting it. Both were endeavouring to be
at their best and clearest in the coming interview, and each set about
it in his own manner.
"I'll tell you why I wanted to have a chat with you, major," Ezra said,
having first opened the door suddenly and glanced out as a precaution
against eavesdroppers. "I have to be cautious, because what I have to
say affects the interest of the firm. I wouldn't for the world have any
one know about it except yourself."
"What is it, me boy?" the major asked, with languid curiosity, puffing
at his weed and staring up at the smoke-blackened ceiling.
"You understand that in commercial speculations the least breath of
information beforehand may mean a loss of thousands on thousands."
The major nodded his head as a sign that he appreciated this fact.
"We have a difficult enterprise on which we are about to embark," Ezra
said, leaning forward and sinking his voice almost to a whisper.
"It is one which will need great skill and tact, though it may be made
to pay well if properly managed. You follow me?"
His companion nodded once more.
"For this enterprise we require an agent to perform one of the principal
parts. This agent must possess great ability, and, at the same time, be
a man on whom we can thoroughly rely. Of course we do not expect to
find such qualities without paying for them."
The major grunted a hearty acquiescence.
"My father," continued Ezra, "wanted to employ one of our own men.
We have numbers who are capable in every way of managing the business.
I interfered, however. I said that I had a good friend, named Major
Tobias Clutterbuck, who was well qualified for the position.
I mentioned that you were of the blood of the old Silesian kings. Was I
not right?"
"Begad you were not. Milesian, sir; Milesian!"
"Ah, Milesian. It's all the same."
"It's nothing of the sort," said the major indignantly.
"I mean it was all the same to my father. He wouldn't know the
difference. Well, I told him of your high descent, and that you were a
traveller, a soldier, and a man of steady and trustworthy habits."
"Eh?" ejaculated the major involuntarily. "Well, all right. Go on!"
"I told him all this," said Ezra slowly, "and I pointed out to him that
the sum of money which he was prepared to lay out would be better
expended on such a man than on one who had no virtues beyond those of
business."
"I didn't give you credit for so much sinse!" his companion exclaimed
with enthusiasm.
"I said to him that if the matter were left entirely in your hands we
could rely upon its being done thoroughly. At the same time, we should
have the satisfaction of knowing that the substantial sum which we are
prepared to pay our agent had come into worthy hands."
"You hit it there again," murmured the veteran.
"You are prepared, then," said Ezra, glancing keenly at him, "to put
yourself at our orders on condition that you are well paid for it?"
"Not so fast, me young friend, not so fast!" said the major, taking his
cigar from between his lips and letting the blue smoke curl round his
head. "Let's hear what it is that you want me to do, and then I'm riddy
to say what I'll agree to and what I won't. I remimber Jimmy Baxter in
Texas--"
"Hang Jimmy Baxter!" Ezra cried impatiently.
"That's been done already," observed the major calmly. "Lynched for
horse-stealing in '66. However, go on, and I'll promise not to stop you
until you have finished."
Thus encouraged, Ezra proceeded to unfold the plan upon which the
fortunes of the House of Girdlestone depended. Not a word did he say of
ruin or danger, or the reasons which had induced this speculation.
On the contrary, he depicted the affairs of the firm as being in a most
nourishing condition, and this venture as simply a small insignificant
offshoot from their business, undertaken as much for amusement as for
any serious purpose. Still, he laid stress upon the fact that though
the sum in question was a small one to the firm, yet it was a very large
one in other men's eyes. As to the morality of the scheme, that was a
point which Ezra omitted entirely to touch upon. Any comment upon that
would, he felt, be superfluous when dealing with such a man as his
companion.
"And now, major," he concluded, "provided you lend us your name and your
talents to help us in our speculation, the firm are prepared to meet you
in a most liberal spirit in the matter of remuneration. Of course your
voyage and your expenses will be handsomely paid. You will have to
travel by steamer to St. Petersburg, provided that we choose the Ural
Mountains as the scene of our imaginary find. I hear that there is high
play going on aboard these boats, and with your well-known skill you
will no doubt be able to make the voyage a remunerative one. We
calculate that at the most you will be in Russia about three months.
Now, the firm thought that it would be very fair if they were to
guarantee you two hundred and fifty pounds, which they would increase to
five hundred in case of success; of course by that we mean complete
success, such as would be likely to attend your exertions."
Now, had there been any third person in the room during this long
statement of the young merchant's, and had that third person been a man
of observation, he might have remarked several peculiarities in the
major's demeanour. At the commencement of the address he might have
posed as the very model and type of respectable composure. As the plan
was gradually unfolded, however, the old soldier began to puff harder at
his cigar until a continuous thick grey cloud rose up from him, through
which the lurid tip of the havannah shone like a murky meteor.
From time to time he passed his hand down his puffy cheeks, as was his
custom when excited. Then he moved uneasily in his chair, cleared his
throat huskily, and showed other signs of restlessness, all of which
were hailed by Ezra Girdlestone as unmistakable proofs of the
correctness of his judgment and of the not unnatural eagerness of the
veteran on hearing of the windfall which chance had placed in his way.
When the young man had finished, the major stood up with his face to the
empty fire-place, his legs apart, his chest inflated, and his body
rocking ponderously backwards and forwards.
"Let me be quite sure that I understand you," he said. "You wish me to
go to Russia?"
"Quite so," Ezra remarked, rubbing his hands pleasantly.
"You have the goodness to suggist that on me way I should rook me
fellow-passengers in the boat?"
"That is to say, if you think it worth your while."
"Quite so, if I think it worth me while. I am then to procade across
the counthry to some mountains--"
"The Urals."
"And there I am to pretind to discover certain diamond mines, and am to
give weight to me story by the fact that I am known to be a man of good
birth, and also by exhibiting some rough stones which you wish me to
take out with me from England?"
"Quite right, major," Ezra said encouragingly.
"I am then to tilegraph or write this lie to England and git it inserted
in the papers?"
"That's an ugly word," Ezra remonstrated. "This 'report' we will say.
A report may be either true or false, you know."
"And by this report, thin," the major continued, "you reckon that the
market will be so affected that your father and you will be able to buy
and sell in a manner that will be profitable to you, but by which you
will do other people out of their money?"
"You have an unpleasant way of putting it," said Ezra, with a forced
laugh; "but you have the idea right."
"I have another idea as well," roared the old soldier, flushing purple
with passion. "I've an idea that if I was twinty years younger I'd see
whether you'd fit through that window, Master Girdlestone. Ged! I'd
have taught you to propose such a schame to a man with blue blood in his
veins, you scounthrel!"
Ezra fell back in his chair. He was outwardly composed, but there was a
dangerous glitter in his eye, and his face had turned from a healthy
olive to a dull yellow tint.
"You won't do it?" he gasped.
"Do it! D'ye think that a man who's worn Her Majesty's scarlet jacket
for twinty years would dirty his hands with such a trick? I tell ye, I
wouldn't do it for all the money that iver was coined. Look here,
Girdlestone, I know you, but, by the Lord, you don't know me!"
The young merchant sat silently in his chair, with the same livid colour
upon his face and savage expression in his eyes. Major Tobias
Clutterbuck stood at the end of the table, stooping forward so as to
lean his hands upon it, with his eyes protuberant and his scanty grey
fringe in a bristle with indignation.
"What right had you to come to me with such a proposal? I don't set up
for being a saint, Lord knows, but, be George! I've some morals, such as
they are, and I mean to stick to them. One of me rules of life has been
niver to know a blackgaird, and so, me young friend, from this day forth
you and I go on our own roads. Ged! I'm not particular, but 'you must
draw the line somewhere,' as me frind, Charlie Monteith, of the Indian
Horse, used to say when he cut his father-in-law. I draw it at you."
While the major was solemnly delivering himself of these sentiments,
Ezra continued to sit watching him in a particularly venomous manner.
His straight, cruel lips were blanched with passion, and the veins stood
out upon his forehead. The young man was a famous amateur bruiser, and
could fight a round with any professional in London. The old soldier
would be a child in his hands. As the latter picked up his hat
preparatory to leaving the room, Ezra rose and bolted the door upon the
inside. "It's worth five pounds in a police court," he muttered to
himself, and knotting up his great hands, which glittered with rings, he
approached his companion with his head sunk upon his breast, his eyes
flashing from under his dark brows, and the slow, stealthy step of a
beast of prey. There was a characteristic refinement of cruelty about
his attack, as though he wished to gloat over the helplessness of his
victim, and give him time to realize his position before he set upon
him.
If such were his intention he failed signally in producing the desired
effect. The instant the major perceived his manoeuvre he pulled himself
up to his full height, as he might have done on parade, and slipping his
hand beneath the tails of his frock-coat, produced a small glittering
implement, which he levelled straight at the young merchant's head.
"A revolver!" Ezra gasped, staggering back.
"No, a derringer," said the veteran blandly. "I got into the thrick of
carrying one when I was in Colorado, and I have stuck to it ever since.
You niver know when it may be useful." As he spoke he continued to hold
the black muzzle of his pistol in a dead line with the centre of the
young man's forehead, and to follow the latter's movements with a hand
which was as steady as a rock. Ezra was no coward, but he ceased his
advance and stood irresolute.
"Now, thin," cried the major, in sharp military accents, "undo that
door."
The young merchant took one look at the threatening apoplectic face of
his antagonist, and another at the ugly black spot which covered him.
He stooped, and pushed back the bolt.
"Now, open it! Ged, if you don't look alive I'll have to blow a hole in
you afther all. You wouldn't be the first man I've killed, nor the last
maybe."
Ezra opened the door precipitately.
"Now walk before me into the strate."
It struck the waiters at Nelson's well-known restaurant as a somewhat
curious thing that their two customers should walk out with such very
grave faces and in so unsociable a manner. "C'est la froideur
Anglaise!" remarked little Alphonse Lefanue to a fellow exile as they
paused in the laying of tables to observe the phenomenon. Neither of
them noticed that the stout gentleman behind with his hand placed
jauntily in the breast of his coat, was still clutching the brown handle
of a pistol.
There was a hansom standing at the door and Major Clutterbuck stepped
into it.
"Look ye here, Girdlestone," he said, as the latter stood looking
sulkily up and down the street. "You should learn a lesson from this.
Never attack a man unless you're sure that he's unarmed. You may git
shot, if you do."
Ezra continued to stare gloomily into vacancy and took no notice of his
late companion's remark.
"Another thing," said the major. "You must niver take it for granted
that every man you mate is as great a blackgaird as yourself."
The young merchant gave him a malignant glance from his dark eyes and
was turning to go, but the gentleman in the cab stretched out his hand
to detain him.
"One more lesson," he said. "Never funk a pistol unless you are sure
there's a carthridge inside. Mine hadn't. Drive on, cabby!"
With which parting shot the gallant major rattled away down Piccadilly
with a fixed determination never again to leave his rooms without a few
of Eley's No 4 central fires in his pocket.