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ILLUSTRATED BY HARRISON FISHER miimi PUBLIG LIBRARY TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS I 800 -^3^:^^--™=;::-:^:— HAiyilLTON PUBLiG UHRAHY nEG4^194t /I THE MARKET-PLACE CHAPTER I T^'feM-^UtlT T' ""^ ^ ""^'"^ -™^'"«J o" the thoughts ^ ""-^ "'"■ '"^ ''"ly-buriy of his be trhTshi^ir nrc' xrr ™ ^^ '» fascinated paiu when he tried .ohT . ! "^ ^ '^""^ "'' and torture and desJn w? " "' "' ~"''' ""=" The responsibiHtyThav „r,!.T-."""?^ ™= "^^''• stop grindius their fi.r»!\ "''^ "'''" ^^ ^°"W ■at'r L. bu^he' w;"u,tTg;fe'irro™ ^f "''°?™ liight. ^ ^°°"^ ^° ^^s mmd to- or Ve'r^f i^xr/ ";\r"-^ ^"-'--'^ '•-^- family likeness, the^ Xnto-I'^Lr r.'".!.'" .^ ^n. aii uaaLgnaut, all distorted with ftightrihej J' ■1" V 1 * THE MARKET-PLACE implored him with eyes in which panic asserted itself above rage and cunning. Only here and there did he re- call a name with which to label one of these countenances- very few of them raised a memory of individual rancour.' The faces were those of men he had seen, no doubt, but their persecution of him had been impersonal ; his great revenge was equally so. As he looked, in truth, fhere was only one face-a composite mask of what he had done battle with and overthrown, and would trampL im' frown t> J ^°°'- """ '"''^^ ^'^ - conqueror^ cold frawn at '. and gave an abrupt laugh which started harsh echoes m the stdtaess of the Board Room. Then he shook °r,i "fT"^' ^"^ sot to his feet. He shivered a little at the sudden touch of a chill. A bottle of brandy, surrounded by glasses, stood on the table where the two least-considered of hi; lieutenants the dummy Directors, had left it. He poured a smS quanttty and sipped it. During the wholf eventful day had not occurred to him before to drink ; the taste of fhe brat ^w-.r" .°",.*^ '"''''"' '° '^^"^ «'«1 '^fr^h Ws brT; fl !^? T" "^'"'^'^"o". ^^ took a cigar from the boad florid y-decorated open box beside the bottle, lit it. and blew a long draught of smoke thoughtfully throuirh h-s nostnls Then he put his hands In his Ss looked agam mto the fire, and sighed a wondering smile! God in heaven ! it was actually true i exhilara ion, which yet was not novel. Upon reflection he perceived that he felt as if he were a boy again-a b"; excited by pleasure. It surprised as much as it delighted him to experience this frank and direct joy of a child He caught the inkling of an idea that perha^ his years w"e middle-aged ; the grey hairs thictenin., «t 1,;= ..„_,!; THE MARKET-PLACE 3 had vaguely depressed him. Now all at once he saw .1, ITS T- ""l^. ^^ ^^^' ^^^ ^"°y^^^y ^f veritable youth bubbled in his veins. He began walking up and down the room, regarding new halcyon visions with a sparkling eye. He was no longer conscious of the hated foe beneath his feet ; they trod instead elastic upon the clouds. ^ The sound of someone moving about in the hallway outside, and of trying a door near by, suddenly caught his attention. ^ He stood still and listened with alertness for a surprised instant, then shrugged his shoulders and beeai moving again. It must be nearly seven o'clock ; although the allotment work had kept the clerks later than usual that day, everybody connected with the offices had cer tainly gone home. He realized that his nerves had played him a trick in giving that alarmed momentary start-and smiled almost tenderly as he remembered how notable and even glorious a warrant those nerves had for their un- settled state. They would be all right after a night's real rest. He would know how to sleep now, thank God ! But yes— there was somebody outside-and this time knocking with assurance at the right door, the entrance to the outer office. After a second's consideration, he went into this unlighted outer office, and called out through the opaque glass an enquiry. The sound of his voice as It analyzed itself in his own ears, seemed unduly peremp- tory The answer which came back brought a flash of wonderment to his eyes. He hurriedly unlocked and opened the door. "I saw the lights in what I made out to be the Board Room said the newcomer, as he entered. " I assumed It must be you. Hope I don't interrupt anvthin^ '• xNotiimg could have given me greater pleasure, I.ord k\ 4 THE MARKET-PLACE Plowden," replied the other, leading the way back to the inner apartment. " In fact, I could n't have asked any- thing better. " The tone of his voice had a certain anxious note in it not quite in harmony with this declaration. He turned, under the drop-light overhanging the Board-table, and shook hands with his guest, as if to atone for this doubt- ful accent. "I shake hands with you again," he said, speaking rapidly, " because this afternoon it was what you may call formal ; it did n't count. And— my God !— you 're the man I owe it all to. ' ' " Oh, you must n't go as far as that— even in the ab- sence of witnesses," replied I^ord Plowden, lightly. " I '11 take oflf my coat for a few minutes," he went on, very much at his ease. " It 's hot in here. It 's by the merest chance I happened to be detained in the City— and I saw your lights, and this afternoon we had no oppor- tunity whatever for a quiet talk. No— I won't drink any- thing before dinner, but I '11 light a cigar. I want to say to you, Thorpe," he concluded, as he seated himself, " that I think what you 've done is very wonderful. The Marquis thinks so too— but I should n't like to swear that he understands much about it. ' ' The implication that the speaker did understand re- mained in the air like a tangible object. Thorpe took a chair, and the two men exchanged a silent, intent look. Their faces, dusky red on the side of the glow from the fire, pallid where the electric light fell slantwise upon them from above, had for a moment a mysterious some- thing in common. Then the tension of the glance was relaxed— and on the instant no two men in London looked less alike. -^ >^*^ was lamiliarly spoksu ot us a ua&dsonie THE MARKET-PLACE 5 man. Thorpe had even heard him called the handsomest man in England-though this seemed in all likelihood an exaggeration. But handsome he undoubtedly was-tall without suggesting the thought of height to the observer erect yet graceful, powerfully built, while preserving the effect of slenderness. His face in repose had the outline of the more youthful guardsman-type-regular, finely-cut impassive to hardness. When he talked, or followed with interest the talk of others, it revealed almost an excess of animation. Then one noted the flashing subtlety of his glance, the swift facility of his smile and comprehending brows and saw that it was not the guardsman face at all His skin was fresh-hued, and there was a shade of warm brown in his small, well-ordered moustasche, but his hair wavy and worn longer than the fashion, seemed black! There were perceptible veins of grey in it, though he had only entered his thirty-fifth year. He was dressed habit- ually with the utmost possible care. The contrast between this personage and the older man confronting him was abrupt. Thorpe was also tall, but of a burly and slouching figure. His face, shrouded in a high-growing, dust-coloured beard, invited no attention One seemed always to have known this face-thick- featured, immobile, undistinguished. Its accessories for the time being were even more than ordinarily unimpres- sive. Both hair and beard were ragged with neglect His commonplace, dark clothes looked as if he had slept n them. The hands resting on his big knees were coarse lu shape, and roughened, and ill-kept. Hrln-'"''''!'^ ,f u ^^""^ ^^^^'^ anything better than your dropping in," he repeated now, speaking with a drag, as ofcaution, on his words. '« Witnesses or no witness, 1 m anxious to have you nnH*»rcfa«^ «.!,„* T —i.._- , ' I owe to you." -11f' l\ O THE MARKET-PLACE V " I only wish it were a great deal more than it is," re- plied the other, with a frank smile. " Oh, it '11 mount up to considerable, as it stands " said Thorpe. ' He could hear that there was a kind of reservation in his voice ; the suspicion that his companion detected it embarrassed him. He found himself in the position of fencing with a man to whom all his feelings impelled him to be perfectly open. He paused, and was awkwardly conscious of constraint in the silence which ensued. " You are very kind to put it in that way," said Lord Plowden, at last.' He seemed also to be finding words for his thoughts with a certain difficulty. He turned his cigar round in his white fingers meditatively. " I gather that your success has been complete— as complete as you your- self could have desired. I congratulate you with all mv heart." ^ " No— don't say my success— say our success," put in Thorpe. " But, my dear man," the other corrected him, "my interest, compared with yours, is hardly more than nomi- nal. I 'm a Director, of course, and I 'm not displeased that my few shares should be worth something instead of nothing, but-^ — " Thorpe lifted one of his heavy hands. " That is n't my view of the thing at all. To be frank, I was turning over in my mind, just awhile ago, before you came in, some way of arranging all that on a different footing. If you '11 trust it to me, I think you '11 find it 's all right." Something in the form of this remark seemed to restore to Lord Plowden his accustomed fluency of speech. ^ " I came here to say precisely that thing," he be^an— " that I do trust it to you. We have never had anv very defiti'*'** toll' ■«•■• ♦t.— ^..u:-~t. J J .....'_ uciiii.v>. i«*n. xju luc ouDjct-i—and pray dou't tiimk that I ^.4,^., i than it is," re- as it stands," reservation in on detected it he position of s impelled him as awkwardly ensued, ly," said Lord iing words for irned his cigar ' I gather that 2 as you your- >u with all my ccess, ' ' put in ed him, ** my re than nomi- lot displeased ng instead of " That is n't [ was turning you came in, t footing. If sail right." led to restore peech. ' he be?;an — had any very think that I THE MARKET-PLACE 7 want to go into details now. I 'd much rather not, in fact. But what I do want to say to you is this : I believe m you. I feel sure that you are going to go far. as the saying is. Well, I want to tie myself to your star. Do you see what I mean ? You are going to be a power in finance. You are going to be able to make and unmake men as you choose. I should be very much obliged in- deed if you would make me." Thorpe regarded the handsome and titled man of fashion with what seemed to the other a lethargic gaze. In truth, his mind was toiling with strenuous activity to master, in all its bearings, the significance of what had heeu said. This habit of the abstracted and lack-lustre eye, the while he was hard at work thinking, was a fortuitous asset which he had never up to that time learned that he possessed Unconsciously, he dampened the spirits of his companion. " Don't imagine I 'm trying to force myself upon you," Ivord Plowden said, growing cool in the face of this slow stare. " I 'm asking nothing at all. I had the impulse to come and say to you that you are a great man, and that you 've done a great thir.g— and done it, moreover, in a very great way. " " You know how it was done ! " The wondering ex- clamation forced itself from Thorpe's unready lips. He bent forward a little, and took a new visual hold, as it were, of his companion's countenance. I.ord Plowden smiled. " Did you' think I was such a hopeless duffer, then ? " he rejoined. For answer, Thorpe leant back *in his chair, crc3sed his legs, and patted his knee contentedly. All at once his face had lightened ; a genial speculation returned to his grey eyes. " Well, I was in a curious position about you you sf-e " He began to explain. The relief with which ht spoke was ' k\ i THE MAKKET-PLACE "Thursday; did I ^e ,.o„ Tu'^av" A^ ^^^">is «i-e.-,e did n-t dawn on me mL^Vm t I "''^' "'^ Tuesdaj . But vesterdav ^f , '""^'"'^ evening -and a^iu ^J:X7^^iz'''.rz'r''''4 make up mv minH nr.^ t i. ^ " ^^' ^ ^^^^^ n't -but sLX I did „T A^d V °"" "' "p °""' '°°^"« a hint that you saw w^' was going J"" "^™' ^^™ ^ puf Sr ""''''^° ^'""^- "' -«> -^* you,, he Thorpe laugh^, and relit his dear "w.iit ,. have asked anything better than this ■• ^dt ""i;'''"'' again. " It beats all the rest nut tn^!'*!, ^^^^"^"^ o"" " Perhaps I don't nni^f n ^°«^^^"- '" my mind." minted Jother tentaCly "°" "'"^ "■^'"'-^•" »- hirzt'e:r;o:ds''brs:e:k'?'^'"^'i''--'^«''^ ^ «">^ <« was more anKio;,tbo t^u-Zud™? ^f ""^ "^ = " ' than about anything el J r • ™'' '"'" <• "»''« "- could n't tell at alTLi ^8f«y°" byword I was. I might ^^:^ii:^t:zv^%^'::it''''''-- ^-^ might round on me-or n« r S ^ ""^.° ^S"'" V"" you might say it ^Hi't " / T^° "^""'^ that-but your hands onheXie affair T?^ '" ^'"'' ""'^ '^^^'^ Ltli^^er''^---^^^^^^ >fytg:;%XTS::-giSt^^^^^^^^^ Of exXn;:™ .- ^r^^^:'. j^:^f' "'«? ^^ ^i-. tLn voi.e. I don t give It any limit. I tue make up niy Let 's see— this A.t any rate, the toward evening Id have told you ay, I could n't ip of my tongue never gave me with you," he ^ell, I could n't J declared once to my mind." ianing," com- ing a little in It fervour; "I ou 'd take it— ord I was. I ■ thing. You in again you lite that— but ou, and wash tell you what isfied. Now in, thought- t 'mquit ; i ihead we are ature of our ■ in sight ? " rising thrill «— 1:— . ;. - THE MARKET-PLACE g don't see why we should stop at all. We 've got them in such a position that-why, good heavens ! we can squeeze them to death, crush them like quartz." He chuckled grimly at the suggestion of his simile. " We '11 ^et more ounces to tlie ion out of our crushings than they ever heard of or. tlie Rand, too." ^ 'thert^" ""'" '""'""^'''^ '^^ "'^^^' ";^^° ^-y Thorpe nesitated, and knitted his brows in the effort to :eruember names. " Oh, there are a lot of them," he said, vaguely • ' I think I told you of the way that kaffir crowd pretended to think well of me, and J me beiieve they were going to take me up. and then, because I would n't give them everything-the very shirt off my back-turned and put their knife into me. I don't know them apart, hardly-they 've all got names like S wines-but I know the gang as a whole, and if I don't lift nt: if mtd^ '' ''-'' ^-^^^"^- ^^-^°^-' t^en my culty to remember that you are an Englishman-a Lon- doner born," he declared pleasantly. "You don't talk n he least hke one. On shipboard I made sure you were an Amencan-a very characteristic one, I thought-oi some curious Western variety, you know. I never was more surprised in my life than when you told me the other day that you only left England a few years ago.' un hardly a few years ' ; more like fifteen," Thorpe known that 1 was an Englishman, when w. " J™.t tnere on the steamer, I kind o' suspect that you'and T'd i ■?i fl V 10 THE MARKET-PLACE inLZT, f'^ °" "'' ''''^- I '^°'>'' »«"■ that I intended to conceal anythi„g-that is, not specially-but I ve often thought since that it was a mighty good thing one of '' " ' "'"' '™^"'=" -f ^™ h-d talen me fof cTd l^ZrT" ^"""'^'"^" ^°" ■'' "^^ ^-- - "'e '' I dare say there 's a good deal in what you say " the other admuted, gently enough, but without contrition Things naturally shape themselves that way rather' you know. If they did n't, why then the whole posio^ wo^d become difficult. But you are an America^ o a intents and purposes." ,„!' °r' ",°,7L"''™'' '°* ^"y ^tep towards gettin.. na urahzed •■ Thorpe protested. " I always inte.fded to of tfettae ""• .°' ""■ ' ™"'' ^^y "-t-because mo^^ of the time I was dog.poor-and this is n't the place for a nunT-r^r ^fr ' "'^^^ ^'-^ '° "'J-'^'f that irever ? pu od It ofr-,f I ever found .nyselfa rich man-tt',!! 'd co„,e piking across the Atlantic as fast as triple-expans on engnies would carry me " cipausion m ms eye. And you are a rich man, now," he ob- served, after a momentary pau.se " \Veare both rich men," replied Thorpe, gravely spok:,"" .This "r'""? "''"'■ "' '"^ <"'- lould'have spoken. This is how it seems to me the thing ficures Itself out : It can't he .said that your name on th^e Bo." d or the Marq„,s's either, was of ,„uch use so far as t le public were concerned. To tell the truth, I saw .some 1 ne ago that they would n't be. Titles on prosj^c u« that they re apt to do more ham, than good-just at present, at least. Bi.f nil »),„. .„,j- ..-.'" ,.,,,1 uDiuc— you are lUe man now," he ob- THE MARKET-PLACE n who was civil to me at the start, when you knew nothing whatever about my scheme, and you are the man who was good to me later on, when I did n't know where to turn for a friendly word. Very well ; here I am ! I Ve made rxiy coup! And I 'd be a sweep, would n't I ? to forget to-day what I was so glad to remember a week ago But you see, I don't forget ! The capital of the Company is ;{^5oo,ooo, all in pound shares. We offered the public only a fifth of them. The other four hundred thousand shares are mine as vendor-and I have ear-marked in my mind one hundred thousand of them to be yours." Lord Plowden's face paled at the significance of these words. " It is too much-you don't reflect what it is you are saying," he murmured confusedly. " Not a bit of it," the other reassured him. " Every- thing that I 've said goes." The peer, trembling a little, rose to his feet " It is a preposterously big reward for the merest act of courtesy " he insisted. " Of course it takes my breath away for \oy- and yet I feel I ought n't to be consenting to it at all And it has its unpleasant side— it buries me under a mountain of obligation. I don't know what to do or what to say. ' ' "Well, leave the saying and doing to me, then," re- plied Thorpe, with a gesture before which the other re- sumed his seat. ' ' Just a word more-nnd then I suppose we d better be going. Look at it in this way. Your grandfather was Lord Chancellor of England, and your father was a General in the Crimea. My grandfather kept a small second-hand book-shop, and my father followed liim in the business. In one sense, that puts us ten thou- sand miles apart. But in another sense, we Ml say that we like each other, and that there are vvav« in wb,vt, „,^ can be ot immense use to each other, and that brings us 1]' ii 1 1 ii !i ii , w ill f iiii im ! I 12 THE MARKET-PLACE close together. You need money-and here it is for you I need-what shall I say ?-a kind of friendly lead /the matter of establishing myself on the right footing among «^e nght peop e-and that 's what you can do 'for me^ Mmd-I 'd prefer to put it all in quite another way ■ I 'd on mtr L7y '" *"^^'"" "" ^°" P""' ^» 8-«'"-»" " lift." said Lord Plowden hat in hand. "I can set yon down wherever you like. Unfortunately I 've to go out to dinner, and I must race, as it is, to get dressed." Thorpe shook his head. - No, go along," he bade hnn. ^ ^ I ve some odds and ends of things to do on the lSII'^'\T^" "''"" ' -^^ 5'°" ■ "~^e^" the other, and halted suddenly with a new thought in his glance. " But to^e f rf?" ''!;:"'' ^"'■"•'•''J' ?■■■'- "sked, in a brisker tone- It s a t. p ■ Vi\ tsstxttrwojoumm II I'l- ,i[i;:' il^M.ll ' i i ! 22 THE MARKET-PLACE tween sl.-r and seven thousand pounds, with which to pay the expenses of selling it. How he had obtained either the plantation or the money did not seem to have made itself understood. No doubt, as his manner indicated when she ventured her enquiries, it was quite irrelevant to the narrative. In Mexico, his experience had been unique, apparently, in that no villain had appeared on the scene to frustrate his plans. He at least mentioned no one who had wronged him there. When he came to lyondon, however, there were villains and to spare. He moved to the mantel, when he arrived' at this stage of the story, and made clear a space for his elbow to rest among the little trinkets and photographs with which it was burdened. He stood still thereafter, looking down at her ; his voice took on a harsher note. Much of this story, also, she knew by heart. This strange, bearded, greyish-haired brother of hers had come very often during the past half-year to the little book-shop, and the widow's home above it, his misshapen handbag full of papers, his heart full of rage, hope, grief, ambition, disgust, confidence — everything but despair. It was true, it had never been quite real to her. He was right in his suggestion that she had never wholly believed in him. She had not been able to take altogether seriously this clumsy, careworn, shabbily-dressed man who talked about millions. It was true that he had sent her four hunoied pounds for the education of her son and daughter ; it was equally true that he had brought with him to London a sum which any of his ancestors, so far as she knew about them, would have deemed a fortune, and which he treated as merely so much oil, with which to lubricate the machinery of his great enterprise. She had heard, at various times, the embittered details of the disappearance of this money, HA ^^^' THE MARKET-PLACE 23 little by little. Nearly a quarter of it, all told, had been appropriated by a sleek ol<: braggart of a company-pro- moter, who had cozened Joel into the belief that I^ondon could be best approached through him. When at last this wretch was kicked downstairs, the effect had been only to make room for a fresh lot of bloodsuckers. There were so-called advertising agents, so-called journalists, so-called " men of influence in the City,"— a swarm of re- lentless and voracious harpies, who dragged from him in blackmail nearly the half of what he had left, before he summoned the courage and decision to shut them out. Worse still, in some ways, were the men into whose hands he stumbled next— a group of City men concerned in the South African market, who impressed him very favourably at the outset. He got to know them by acci- dent, at the time when he began to comprehend the necessity of securing influential support for his scheme. Everything that he heard and could learn about them testified to the strength of their position in the City. Because they displayed a certain amiability of manner toward him and his project, he allowed himself to make sure of their support. It grew to be a certainty in his mind that they would see him through. He spent a good deal of money in dinners and suppers in their honour, after they had let him understand that this form of pro- pitiation was not unpleasant to them. They chafled him about some newspaper paragraphs, in which he was de- scribed as the " Rubber King," with an affable assump- tion of amusement, under which he believed that he detected a genuine respect for his abilities. rinally, when he had danced attendance upon them for the better part of two months, he laid before them, at the coflfee-and-cigars stage of a dinner in a private room of the Savoy, the details of his proposition. They were to form 'fi'i A :: ! f'i'fh H THE MARKET-PLACE a Syndicate to take over his property, and place it upon the market ; in consideration of their finding the ready money for this exploitation, they were to have for them- selves two-fifths of the shares in the Company ultimately to be floated. They listened to these details, and to his enthusiastic remarks about the project itself, with rather perfunctory patience, but committed themselves that even- ing to nothing definite. It took him nearly a week there- after to get an answer from any of them. Then he learned that, if they took the matter up at all, it would be upon the basis of the Syndicate receiving nine-tenths of the shares. He conceived the idea, after he had mastered his original amazement, that they named these preposterous terms merely because they expected to be beaten down, and he summoned all his good nature and tact for the task of haggling with them. He misunderstood their first show of impatience at this, and persevered in the face of their tacit rebuffs. Then, one day, a couple of them treated him with overt rudeness, and he, astonished out of his caution, replied to them in kind. Suddenly, he could hardly tell why or how, they were all enemies of his. They closed their office doors to him ; even their clerks treated him with contemptuous incivility. This blow to his pride enraged and humiliated him, curiously enough, as no other misadventure of his life had done. Louisa remembered vividly the description he had given to her, at the time, of this affair. She had hardly under- stood why it .should disturb him so profoundly : to her mind, these men had done nothing so monjtrous after all. But to him, their offense swallowed up all the other indig- nities suffered during the years of his Ishmaelitish wander- ings. A sombre lust for vengeance upon them took root THE MARKET-PLACE 25 in his very soul. He hated nobody else as he hated them. How often she had heard him swear, in solemn vibrating tones, that to the day of his death his most sacred ambi- tion should be their punishment, their abasement in che dust and mire ! And now, all at once, as she looked up at him, where he leant against the mantel, these vagabond memories of hers took point and shape. It was about these very men that he was talking. " And think of it ! " he was saying, impressively. " It 's magnificent enough for me to make this great hit- but I don't count it as anything at all by comparison with the fact that I make it at their expense. You remember the fellows I told you about ? " he asked abruptly, defer- ring to the confused look on her face. " Yes— you make it out of them," she repeated, in an uncertain voice. It occurred to her that she must have been almost asleep. " But did I miss anything ? Have you been telling what it is that you have made ? " " No— that you shall have in good time. You don't seem to realize it, Louisa. I can hardly reali/e it myself. I am actually a very rich man. I can't tell how much I 've got— in fact, it can be almost as much as I like- half a million pounds, I suppose, at the start, if I want to make it that much. Yes— it takes the breath away, does n't it ? But best of all— a thousand times best of all —practically every dollar of it comes out of those Kaffir swine— the very men that tried to rob me, and that have been trying to ruin me ever since. I tell you what I wish, Louise— I wish to God there could only be time enough, and I 'd take it all in half-sovereign.s— two mil- lions of them, or three millions— and just untwist every coin, one bv one. out from nmoncr thp\r 1i»»Qrf-cfr^rio-o Oh— but it '11 be all right as it is. It 's enough to make a 26 THE MARKET-PLACE li lill i\ iiiii man feel religious — to think how those thieves are going to suffer. ' ' "Well," she said, slowly, after reflection, "it all rather frightens me. ' ' As if the chill in the air of the cheerless room had sud- denly accentuated itself, she arose, took a match-box from the mantel, and, stooping, lit the fire. He looked down at the tall, black-clad figure, bent in stiff awkwardness over the smoking grate, and his eyes softened. Then he took fresh note of the room— the faded, threadbare carpet, the sparse old furniture that had seemed ugly to even his uninformed boyish ta.ste, the dingy walls and begrimed low ceiling— all pathetic sym- bols of the bleak life to which she had been condemned. " Frightens you ? " he queried, with a kind of jovial tenderness, as she got to her feet ; " frightens you, eh ? Why, within a month's time, old lady, you '11 be riding in the Park in your own carriage, with niggers folding their arms up behind, and you '11 be taking it all as easy and as natural as if you 'd been born in a barouche." He added, in response to the enquiry of her lifted brows : " Barouche? That 's what we 'd call in Eng- land a landau." She stood with a foot upon the fender, her tired, passive face inclined meditatively, her rusty old black gown drawn back by one hand from the snapping sparks. " No," she said, slowly, joyless resignation mingling with pride in her voice. " I was born here over the .shop." " Well, good God ! so was I," he commented, lustily. " But that 's no reason why I should n't v^^ind up in Park Lane — or you either." She had nothing ta say to this, apparently. After a little, she seated herself again, drawing her chair closer to the hearth. "It 's years since I 've lit this fire before THE MARKET-PLACE 27 hieves are going lection, "it all s room had sud- matcli-box from i figure, bent in te, and his eyes the room — the rniture that had Dyish taste, the dl pathetic sym- m condemned. I kind of jovial jhtens you, eh ? ou '11 be riding niggers folding ng it all as easy barouche," y of her lifted 'd call in Eng- the first of November," she remarked, with the air of defending the action to herself. " Oh, we 're celebrating," he said, rubbing his hands over the reluctant blaze. " Everything goes, tonight ! " Her face, as she looked up at him, betrayed the bewilder- ment of her mind. " You set out to tell me what it was all about," she reminded him. "You see I 'm com- pletely in the dark. I only hear you say that you 've made a great fortune. That 's all" I know. Or perhaps you 've told me as much as you care to." " Why, not at all," he reassured her, pulling his own chair toward him with his foot, and sprawling into it with a grunt of relief. ' ' If you '11 draw me a glass of that beer of yours, I '11 tell you all about it. It 's not a thing for everybody to know, not to be breathed to a human being, for that matter—but you '11 enjoy it, and it '11 be safe enough with you." As she rose, and moved toward a door, he called merrily after her : " No more beer when that keg runs dry, you know. Nothing but champagne ! " er tired, passive ick gown drawn cs. "No," she I with pride in 3p." mented, lustily, /ind up in Park ently. After a r chair closer to this firg before ■,,# CHAPTER III THORPE took ca long, thoughtful pull at the beer his sister brought him. " Ah, I did n't know I was so thirsty," he said, when he put the glass down. ' ' Truth is— I ' ve lost track of my- self altogether since — since the big thing happened. I seem to be somebody else— a comparative stranger, so to speak. I 've got to get acquainted with myself, all over again. You can't imagine what an extraordinary feeling it is — this being hit every few minutes with the recollec- tioQ chat you 're worth half a million. It 's like being struck over the head. It knocks you down. There are such thousands of things to do— you dance about, all of a flitter. You don't know where to begin." " Begin where you left off," suggested Louisa. " You were going to tell me how — how ' the big thing ' hap- pened. You 're always coming to it — and never getting any further." Nodding comprehension of the rebuke's justification, he plunged forthwith into the tale. " You remember my telling you at the time how I got my Board together. I 'm speaking now of the present Company — after I 'd decided to be my own promoter, and have at least some kind of ' a look-in' for my money. There was n't much money left, by the way ; it was con- siderably under three thousand. But I come to that later. First there was the Board, Here was where that L,Qrd Plowden that I told you about — the man that came over 88 THE MARKET-PLACE 29 ill at the beer his ," he said, when i lost track of my- :ig happened. I ^e stranger, so to 1 myself, all over aordinary feeling ?vith the recollec- It 's like being own. There are ce about, all of a I." Louisa. " You big thing ' hap- nd never getting :e's justification, e time how I got N of the present vn promoter, and for my money, vay ; it was con- ome to that later, ft'hert! that Lord n that came over on the ship with me— came in. I went to him. I— God! I was desperate— but I had n't much of an idea he 'd con- sent. But he did ! He listened to me, and I told him how I 'd been robbed, and how the Syndicate would have cut my throat if I had n't pulled away,— and he said, ' Why, yes, I '11 go on your Board.' Then I told him more about it, and presently he said he 'd get me another man of title— a sky-scraper of a title too— to be my Chair- man. That 's the Marquis of Chaldon, a tremendous diplomatic swell, you kuow. Ambassador at Vienna in his time, and Lord Lieutenant and all sorts of things, but willing to gather in his five hundred a year, all the same." " Do you mean that you pay /iwi five hundred pounds a year ? " asked the sister. " Yes, I 've got a live Markiss who works for me at ten quid a week, and a few extras. The other Directors get three hundred. This Lord Plowden is one of them-»>ut I '11 tell you more about him later on. Then there 's Watkin, he 's a small accountant Finsbury way ; and Davidson, he 's a wine-merchant who used to belong to a big firm in Dundee, but gets along the best way he can on a very dicky business here in London, now. And then there 's General Kervick, awfully well-connected old chap, they say, but I guess he needs all he can get. He 's started wearing his fur-coat already. Well, that 's my Board. I could n't join it, of course, till after allotment— that 's because I 'm the vendor, as they call it— but that hasn't interfered at all with my running the whole show. The Board does n't really count, you know. It only docs what I want it to do. It 's just a form that costs me seventeen hundred a year, that 's all." "Seventeen hundred a year," she repeated, mechani- cally, " Well, then we got out the prospectus, d' ye see. Or -H' '..'i!)9tt.M'!JIU!Wimil Pi... Ill :n 'I i ,1 :l Hi Hi 'i !ii |i:l'h 30 THE MARKET-PLACE first, there were other things to be done. I saw that a good broker's name counted for a lot on a prospectus. I picked out one that I 'd heard was reasonable — it 'd been a splendid name if I could have got it — but he calmly said his price was two thousand pounds, all cash down — and I came away. Finally I got a fellow who had n't done much of anything yet, and so was n't so stiff about his figure. He agreed to take ;^500 cash, and 2,000 in shares. It was God's luck that I hit on him, for he turned out, at the pinch, to be the one man in a million for me. But I '11 tell you about him later. He *s the Broker, mind ; you must n't forget him. Well, then, he and I got a Solicitor — he took /200 cash, but he had to have 2,000 shares — and the firm of Auditors — they were ^100 cash and 1,000 shares. Every company has to have these people pasted on to it, by law. Oh yes, and then you must have your Bankers. You don't pay them anything, though, thank God ! Well, then, there was the machinery complete, all ready to start. I took a hand- some set of offices, and furnished them up to the nines — but that I was able to do pretty well on credit. You see, ready money was getting short. ' ' And now came the biggest pull of all. There was the press to be worked." He spoke as if there were no other papers in I^ondon but the financial journals. " I did n't sleep much while that was being fixed up. You 've got no more idea of what the press means, Louisa, than you have of— of a coil ot snakes thawing out hungry in the .spring. Why, if one blackmailer came to me, I swear a hundred did. They scared the life out of me, the first month or so. And then there 's a swarm of adver- ilciiiig Uj^ciiirj, v.uu any mcv Can tvccp lUccsc uici\.r..niain.i3 off, if you '11 make it worth their while. But they all THE MARKET-PLACE 31 bere was the wanted too much money for me — and for a while I was at my wits' ends. At last I got a fellow— he 's not behaved so badly, all things considered — who had some sporting blood in his veins, and he was willing to do the whole thing for /s.ooo, if I could pay / 1,500 down, and the rest in shares. But that was just what I could n't do, you see, so finally he took ^1,000 down and 5,000 in shares— and as I say he 's done it tolerably well. There was one editor that I had to square personally — that is to say, ^100 cash — it had to be in sovereigns, for notes could be traced — and a call of 2,000 shares at par, — he 's the boss pirate that everybody has to square — and of course there were odd ten-pound notes here and there, but as a rule I just opened the door and fired the black- mailers out. The moment a fellow came in, and handed me his card, and said he had proofs of two kinds of articles in his pocket, one praising me, one damning me, I told him to go and see my advertising agent, and if he would n't do that, then to go to hell. That 's the way you 've got to talk in the City," he added, as if in apolo- getic explanation. Louisa looked impassively at her brother. " Oh, I 've heard the expression as far west as the Strand," she re- marked. " Well, then came the issue. That was last Saturday. You saw the prospectus in Saturday morning's papers, and in the weeklies. The list was to be kept open, it said, till Wednesday morning — that was yesterday. That is to say, during all that time, people could apply for shares. ' ' " Which they did n't do — according to your account," the sister suggested, dryly. Thnrnp nnstjpri 1ii« fiticrprc f1irr»iicr1i hia roufViotio/l Vtnir and eyed her with a momentary quizzical gleam in his ;f' THE MARKET-PLACE eye. Then he became serious again. The recollection of what he was now to narrate brought a frown to his brows. On Tuesday afternoon," he began, with portentous deliberation — " Or no, first I must explain something. You see, in bringing out a company, you can't put up too stout a bluj6F. I mean, you 've got to behave as if you were rolling in wealth — as if everything was coming your way, and fortunes were to be made by fastening to you. I don't know that it often fools anybody very much, but it 's part of the game, and you must play it. Well, ac- cordingly, my Broker goes on 'change Saturday morning, and has his jobber shout out that he '11 buy ' Rubber Consols ' — that 's what our shares are called on the street — at an eighth premium ; that is to say, he offered to buy for twenty-two-and-six what we were offering to the public for twenty shillings. Of course, you see, the object of that was to create the impression that there was a regular God-almighty rush for our shares. As I say, I don't know whether that ever fooled anybody — but at least there was the chance that it might start up some dealing in the shares— and all those things help. Besides, you got the sales noticed in the papers, and that might start up appli- cations from the public. Well, the Broker bought i,ooo shares this way on Saturday. On Monday, when it might still be possible to change the luck, he bought 3,500 more, still at that premium of an eighth. He bought some Tuesday morning too— say 4,000. Well, now, keep those figures in your head, and keep an eye on the Broker. He 's worth watching — as you '11 see." " What 's his name ? " asked the sister, with an acces- sion of alertness in her face. " You call him ' Broker ' — and that does n't mean anything to me. They 're all brokers, are n't they ? " THE MARKET-PLACE 33 " Semple— Colin Semple, that 's his '...^e. He 's a young Scotchman— father 's a Presbyterian minister. He 's a little, insignificant runt of a chap to look at— but I learned a long time ago not to judge a singed cat by his looks. However— where was I ? " " You were going to tell about Tuesday afternoon were n't you?" He nodded gravely, and straightened himself, drawing a long breath in preparation for the dramatic recital before hmi. " On Tuesday afternoon," he began again, with impressive slowness, "I was walking on Throgmorton Street, about four o'clock. It was raining a little— it had been raining on and off all day— a miserable, rotten sort of a day, with greasy mud everywhere, and every- body poking umbrellas into you. I was out walking be- cause I 'd 'a' cut my throat if I 'd tried to stay in the office another ten minutes. All that day I had n't eaten anything. I had n't slept worth speaking of .for three nights. The whole game was up for me. I was worse than ruined. I had half a crown in my pocket. I had ten or twelve pounds in the bank— and they would n't let me overdraw a farthing. I tell you, I was just plumb busted. "There came along in the gutter a sandwich-man. I 'd seen the cuss before during the day, walking up and down near my offices. I took notice of him, because he was the raggedest, dirtiest, most foriorn-looking cripple you ever saw in your life. Now I read what was on his boards. It was the bill of a paper that I had refused to be bled by, and there it was in big letters : ' The Rubber Bubble Burst ! ' ' Thorpe's Audacity Punished ! ' Those were the words. I can see them with ray eyes shut. I stood there, looking at the fellow, and I suppose there was something in the way I looked, for he stopped too. BH 34 THE MARKET-PLACE I ill si; !..::: Of course, he did n't knew me from Adam, but all the same, I 'm damned it He did n't wink his eye at me— as if we two had a joke between us. And at that I burst out laughing — I simply roared with laughter, like a boy at a pantomime— and I took that last half-crown out of my pocket, and I gave it to the sandwich-man. God ! you should have seen his face." " I don't particularly mind, Joel," said his sister, " but I never heard you swear so much before." " Oh, what the— what the deuce ! " he protested, im- patiently. " Don't interrupt me now ! Well, I went on down the street. The members of the Stock Exchange were coming out of ' the house,' and making up little groups on the pavement. They do business inside, you know, until closing time — this day it happened to be four o'clock — and then they come out and deal in the street with one another, with the kerb-stone mob, who are not allowed inside, standing round to watch the thing. I came along into the thick of these fellows ; they were yelling out all sorts of things—' East Rands,' ' Oroyas,' ' I^ake View Centrals,' and what not, but these went in one ear and out the other. If there ever was a man with no stomach for the market it was me. But then someone roared out : ** ' At seven-eighths, sell Rubber Consols ! Sell five hundred Rubber at seven-eighths ! Sell five hundred at three-quarters ! At three-quarters you have 'em ! Rub- ber Consols ! Sell a thou, at three-quarters ! ' " This thing went into my brain like a live coal. I stopped and looked up at the fellow — and by God, it was one of the men I 've been talking about — one of those Kaffir scoundrels. I wish I was better at remembering names — but I knew his face. There were some of the others around him, and they laughed at me, and he i THE MARKET-PLACE 35 s sister, " but laughed at me. Oh, they had a heap of fun out of me— for a minute or two. Pretty good fun, too ! I guess they '11 remember it quite a while." " Go on ! " I,ouisa adjured him. The obvious proximity of the dramatic climax drew her forward in her chair, and brought a glow of expectation to her eyes. " I got myself away from that crowd somehow— I think I was afraid if I stayed I 'd strangle the one who was shouting on the steps— and I went toward my office. But when I got to the door, I did n't have the courage to go in. I 'd furnished it better, I suppose, than any other office in Austin Friars, and I had a kind of feeling that the sight of those carpets, and oak-tables and desks, and brass-railings and so on would make me sick. I owed for 'em all, bear in mind " " But— Joel," the lister interposed. " One thing I don't understand. How many people had applied for shares ? You have n' t mentioned that. ' ' A fleeting smile lighted up the saturnine gloom of his i resent mood. " It was hardly worth mentioning," he answered, with bitter mirth. "Between five and six thousand shares were subscribed, all told. I think the withdrawals by telegraph brought it down to practically five thousand. We offered a hundred thousand, you know.— But let me go on with my story. I stood there, in front of our street-door, in a kind of trance. The words of that Jew — 'Sell Rubber Consols at three- quarters ! '—buzzed inside my head as if they would burst it open. I turned— and I happened to see ray Broker— the Scotchman, Semple, you know— coming along toward me. Right at that minute, like a flash, something dawned on me. In less than a second, I saw the whole damned rotten outfit tlirnpH lincirip r^n-nm TirifU ~.r> J 4._._ T 1 jump, and ran to meet Semple. 36 THE MARKET-PLACE i\ II mm "'How many shares of ours have you bought?' I^ asked him, with a grip tight on his arm. ' ' The little chap was looking mighty sick. He figured up in his mind. ' I 'm afraid it 's eight thousand five hundred, all told,' he said, in a sort of Presbyterian whimper. «« « Well— how would these gentlemen go about it to de- liver their goods— that is, supposing we got a settle- ment ? ' " I asked him this, and kept my eye on his face. He looked puzzled for a minute. Then he put out his lip. Then he shot me a glance as sharp as a razor, and we looked into one another's eyes. "'They were shouting them out to me at three- quarters, a minute ago,' I told him. " He was onto the game like lightnii.g. ' Wait for me in the office,' he whispered. ' We '11 go nap on this ! ' " With that he was off like a streak. He stopped run- ning just before he got to the corner, though, and began walking slowly, sauntering along, you know, as if his mind was on nothing but second-hand books. I watched him out of sight— and then I went back, and up to the offices. The furniture did n't scare me a bit this time. Why, I stopped and felt of the brass-railing just outside the Board Room, and I said to myself—' Pshaw ! We could have you of solid gold, if we wanted to.' " He paused here, and regarded his sister with what she felt was intended to be a significant look. She shrank from the confession that its meaning was Greek to her. " Well— and what next ? " she asked, guardedly. " Semple came back in twenty minutes or so— and the next morning he was at it again— and what with him and his jobber, by George, on the quiet, they picked up nearly eighteen thousand of our shares. Some they paid fifteen THE MARKET-PLACE 37 shillings for, some they got at twelve-and-six and even ten. That does n't matter ; it 's of no more importance than the coppers you give to crossing-sweepers. The thing was to get the shares— and by God we ' ve got them ! Twenty-six thousand two hundred shares, that 's what we 've got. Now, do you see what that means ? " "Why yes," she answered, with a faint-hearted as- sumption of confidence. " Of course, you know the property is so good that you '11 make a profit on the shares you 've bought far below their value. But I don't think I quite see " He interrupted her with an outburst of loud laughter. " Don't think you quite see ? " he gurgled at her, with tears of pleasure in his eye. - Why, you dummy, you have n't got the faintest glimmer of a notion of what it 's all about. The value of the property 's got nothing in the world to do with it. That 's neither here nor there. If there was n't any such property in existence, it would be just the same." He had compassion upon her blanV countenance, at this and explained more gently : ' . hy, don't you see, Lou,' It 's this way. This is what has happened. We 've got what 's called a corner on the bears. They 're caught short, and we can squeeze them to our hearts' content. What— you don't understand now? Why, see here! These fellows who 've sold twenty-six thousand of our shares— they hav- n't got them to sell, and they can't get them. That is tae point— they can't get them for love nor money— they must pay me my own price for them, or be ruined men. The moment they realize the situation, ^ey will begin offering a premium for Rubber Consols! The price of a one-pound share will be two pounds, then four civ ^■^t-, 4-^.^»l... a.1-!_i-_ V . _ - It to." i 38 THE MARKET-PLACE Louisa stared up at him with wide open eyes. It seemed to her that she understood now. It was very exciting. ' ' You see, ' ' he went on, taking approving note of the new light of comprehension in her glance, * ' we did some- thing that Tuesday afternoon beside buy up these shares. Semple rushed off to his office, and he and his clerks got up a lot of dummy applications for shares, made out in all the diflferent names they could be safe in using, and they put these into the bank with the application money — Semple found that — and next day he went and saw the advertising agent and the solicitor and the auditors— and got them to pool the shares that I 've promised to give them. A pool ? That means they agree to transfer their shares to me as trustee, and let me deal with them as I like — of course to their advantage. In any case, their shares are vendor's shares, and could n't be dealt with in this transaction. So you see the thing is hermetically sealed. Nobody can get a share except from me, and at my price. But these fellows that have sold them — they ' ve got to have them, don't you see. They had their little temporary joke with me on the street that afternoon — and now they must walk up to the captain's office and settle. They 've got to pay me at least half a million pounds for that few minutes' fun of theirs. I may make it a good deal more ; I don't know yet." " Oh, Joel !" she groaned at him, in awed stupefac- tion. His rather languid indecision as to whether half a million was going to be enough, impressed her more powerfully than had any detail of his narrative. In a few comprehensive sentences he finished up for her what there was to tell. " This afternoon my Board met to allot the shares. They saw the applications, amount- ing .J _u la Uii \x) uvcr iiiiiciy luuusuuu niiaics. It 4. 1- 4.i.„:_ breath away — they had heard that things were going quite -Tiwmmfiini THE MARKET-PLACE It seemed ixciting. note of the ; did some- ese shares, clerks got £ out in all ;, and they 1 money — nd saw the litors— and sed to give insfer their them as I case, their :alt with in srmetically me, and at 1 — they 've their little noon — and and settle, pounds for i it a good i stupefac- ither half a her more I up for her Board met IS, amount- i. 1. 4.t.>.:- going quite 39 the other way with us. They were so tickled that they asked no questions. The allotment went through like a greased pig. About 5.000 shares went to those who ^fvenTn "^7^ '^ ^'''^'"^' ^"^ ^«'°°° ^^^« solemnly given to the dummy applicants. Of course, there was n't a whisper about these dummies. Nobody winked so rnuch as an eyelash. But I 've found since that one of the Directors-that I.ord Plowden I told you about-was on^ he thing all the while. But he 's all right. Ever^! body sallnght. Of course the dummies' shares still sta^d all m my safe-m my pocket you might say. They are really mine, you understand. So now there 's noth- nl 1 ""'!?. ° ^"' *^ "PP^y '° '^^ Stock Exchange for a special settlement date, and meanwhile lie qufet and watch the Jews stew in their own juice. Or fry in their own fat, eh ? That 's better." «^r ^^*'"k^^u ^°^^"^^"t^d slowly, " you say there are no thoTr ':,'°"^ V"^ ''' ^^ ' ""^^^«t^"d ^t. there are reaTy Zlll^^r'"'" ^'" ^''' ^^" °" " ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ •'Bravo, Lou!" he answered her jovially. "You actually do understand the thing. You 've put your cZTl./u uT~~^' ""^^' ^' '""^^^ ^^^i"«t "« if they all In ^1 f "f • ^"' '■" '^^^'^> • '""'y ^°"'t count a^ all. In the first place, you see. they 're scr^ttered about among small holders, country clergymen and old mJds on an annuity and so on~aIl over the country. Even if these people were all traced, and hunted up, suppose it was worth the trouble and expense, they would nTsel The bigger the price they were offered, the more mulish orifv. *i,~ "« "■■"'""' ""'"^"K- -ifl" s always the way with them. But even if they did all sell, their five thou IHI 40 THE MARKET-PLACE ;li:i,!: II sand would be a mere drop in the bucket. There would be oyer twenty thousand others to be accounted for. That would be quite enough for my purposes. Oh, I figured all that out very carefully. My own first notion was to have the dummies apply for the whole hundred thousand and even a little over. Then, you see, we might have allotted everything to the dummies, and sent back the money and applications of the genuine ones. But that would have been rather hard to manage with the Board. The Markiss would have said that the returns ought to be made pro ra/a-that IS, giving everybody a part of what they ap. plied for-and that would have mixed everything up And then, too, if anybody suspected anything, why the Stock Exchange Committee would refuse us a special settlement-and, of course, without that the whole trans- action is moonshine. It was far too risky, and we did n't send back a penny." "It 'sail pretty risky, I should think." she declared as she rose. ' ' I should think you 'd lie awake more than ever now-now that ycu 've built your hopes so high and It d be so awful to have them come to nothing " He smilingly shook his head. " No. it can no more fail than that gas can fail to burn when you put a light to It. It s ail absolute. My half-miJHon is as right as if it were lying to my credit in the Bank of England Oh that reminds me." he went on in a slightly altered tone- it s damned comical, but I 've got to ask you for a little money. I 'ye only got about seven pounds at my bank, and just at the minute it would give me away fcarfullj. to let Semple know I was hard up. Of course he 'd let me have anything I wanted-hut, you can see-I don't like to ask hmi just at the moment." She hesitated visibly, and scanned his face with n wist- lulgaze. " You 're niiif." euro Tv^..l a »> _u- u .- - THE MARKET-PLACE ,, you have n't told me-how lone will it h. u r con., .utosor.. of this money >" " ^ ^^°'^ y°" supD^'th'„7h' '" '?" P""'"" °™' '''' ''"rfs-" well I buppose tnat by next weeW thir,rr^ -n t. . ' that my bank will seeT t lo!f / ^' '" '""' ^''^P^ .'T-arB't^i?"^"-----^^^^^ hanayj Jno^^lVL^yVr S ^"'^ 7"^ you don. .etU^tret^ry-i .ll m'."'^ '^"^ ^ simp V ' iT"* '"^ """"'' '''•°'" y™- J"-'. • • ^he replied Ts^" hi„k7 L':,r/e^^rtr " 't '-'"' ^'^^'■ the morning, I suppose"^' "' ''°""'^- " ™" ^o ^ in,S„rdo1::,,^T- ' I";™-;- r.Why-you don't down, and no'ne'ofi.nityup'ttt'if;^ "w,' 'V"^'" you '11 set intPrp«f o«i . ,^^^^^^- Why of course you suppoL ? ' ""^ ''P"'' *™>^" '"■ What did " I don't ask anything for mvoflf "=»,.„ j with a note of resolution ?„ he vdce' ■ Of ' "T"' like to do things for th, MIA ■ '^""'''^ "' y<»> stand in theiMght Th. 'k' " "''"'' ^ "'^ «'''<> '» of life as it is, •' ^ ™ '''"" 'P""^'' '■"^ "y kind •■ liet :"stlKd isTi»:" "^ ^-^-^^ -""^• older^tta^het ■"'" '" ''''-""' ^""^ '» f°"'«» '"-ths ' ' Old ! ■ ■ was Thorpe's meditative comment • • H they shoot up I Whv Iwn«ti,i„i ; \ ™"""ent. How "She never wrL I,, '^'"r^f "'"'"''"''^g'ri-" "Other, .. She ;ruVh"/r;;L!!^:'':^:;. -'•J''^ '■■'""' is more of a Thorpe. I 'm sor-ry' ^ol, ^S s^^l^ Hi \ 42 Tttfi MARKET-PLACE last summer-but of course they did n't stop long with me. This was no place for them-and they had a good many mvitations to visit schoolfellows and friends in the country. Alfred reminds me very much of what you were at his age : he 's g ,t the same good opinion of himself, too— and he ' s not a bit fonder of hard work. ' ' "There 's one mighty big difference between us though," remarked Thorpe. " He won't start with his nose held down to the grindstone by an old father hard as nails. He '11 start like a gentleman— the nephew of a nchman." " I 'm almost afraid to have such notions put in his head," she replied,; with visible apprehension. " You must L't encourage him to build too high hopes, Joel. It 's speculation, you know— and anything might happen to you. And then— you may marry, and have sons of your own." He lifted his brows swiftly— as if the thought were new to his mind. A slow smile stole into the little wrinkles about his eyes. He opened his lips as if to speak, and then closed them again. " Well," he said at last, abruptly straightening himself, and casting an eye about for his coat and hat. " I 'H be round in the morning -on my way to the City. Good-bye till then." Ill ns put in his CHAPTER IV IN Clmring Cross station, the next afternoon, Mr. Thorpe rived fully ten mmutes too soon. This deviation from his deeply rooted habit of catching trains at the last poSible Td L 1 r' .'"'" "'" '^y ^"P"^- H« smiled dryly and nodded to the illuminated dial, as if they shared th; head : Z' '"^"1 ""'''''■ ^"'■^ «="-« '» 'b^ Stat on f„. »i, ^ """,°'^ ^ P"^'^^ ™"^ «■>'»' ''^d l'^"' happen- ing all day-merely one more token of the gener^up. heaval m the routine of his life. senerai up From early morning he had been acutely conscious Thev fit ^d K ^=^»-"='-- becoming strange to him They fitted him no longer ; they began to fall away from him. Now, as he stood here on the bustling niatform it was as. f they had all disappeared-been li somt"; e behind h,m outside the station. With the two large bags which he porter was looking after-hoth of a quite dfs sh S' h'at r "" of a3pect-„nd the new ovcLat and JZTI A ' '^^"'"' '° '"™^^"' " ™^ kind of being embarked upon a voyage of discovery in the unknown. DufsILd", I'T-™" "T- ^ ™^''^" »'«J i'-fesistil.Ie im- ou set hV T '" "*' ''^'^ber-shop in his hotel at the outset , he could not wait till after breakfast to have his beard remmr^A n^u. ,. - _ . "mvit ma ...._,. ..... pcsuit, wiiea he beheld it in the mirror, had not been altogether reassuring. The over- 4a ymmiii THE MARKET-PLACE long, thin, tawny moustasche which survived the razor assumed an undue prominence ; the jaw and chin re- vealed now for the first time in perhaps a dozen j^ars. seemed of a sickly colour, and, in some inexplicable way misshapen. Many times during the day, at his ofiice, ai the restaurant where he lunched, at various outfitters' shops which he had visited, he had pursued the task of getting reconciled to this novel visage in the looking- glass. The little mirrors in the hansom cabs had helped him most in this endeavour. Each returned to him an image so different from all the others-some cadaverous, some bloa ed, but each with a spontaneous distortion of Its own-that It had become possible for him to strike an average tolerable to himself, and to believe in it His sister had recognized him upon the instant, when he entered the old book-shop to get the money premised overnight, but in the City his own clerks had no^t known ^Z T u. ''' "^^^ "^ '^'' ^" ^"«P^""& implication .hat he had not s^ much changed his appearance as re- vived his youth. The consciousness that he was in reality still a young man spread over his mind afresh, and this time he felt that it was effacing all eariier impressions. Why, when he thought of it, the delight he had had during the day ,n buying new shirts and handkerchiefs and embroidered braces, in looking over the various stocks of razors, toilet articles, studs and sleeve-links, and the like and telling the gratified tradesn.en to give him the best of everything-this delight had been distinctively boyish. He doubted, indeed, if any mere youth could have risen to the heights of tender satisfaction from which he reflected upon the contents of Ms portmanteaus. To apprehend their full value one must have been without them for such a weary time ! He had this wonderf-ul ad- vaniajie-mat he supplemented the fresh-hearted joy of THE MARKET-PLACE .. '^\T't t ""^ *'°^'' "'*'' ""^ ^'^"" -n^n'^ knowledge of how b, d existence could be without them. U wS wor h havmg lived all those forty obscure and mosX unpleasant years, for this one privilege now of bd I :nk unr:r " " ''- ""^™-' *'•--'' <>' ^-™ ' It was an undoubted pity that there had not be^n time to go to a good tailor. The suit he had on wl's ri'"t enough for ordinary purposes, and his eveni,^!clothes were as good as new, but the thought of a cXme for shooting harassed his mind. He had brought atriuh him, for th:s eventful visit, an old Mexican outfi ofT^l low,sh-grey cloth and leather, much the wotse for rot'gh wear, but saved from the disreputable by its suggestion cln'trTI "?^rr " ' ^'-"g'and Su country. At least it had seemed to him, in the morning when he had packed it, to be secure in this Xt on Uneasy doubts on the subject had soon risen, however' and they had increased in volume and poig„<^„cyTs h[^ conceptions of a wardrobe expanded in the conr^ of the day s investigations and purchases. He had reached the point now of hoping that it would rain bitterly on the morrow. -^ ^"^ To'^p? ''"""y .'»?""=">' to keep a close look-out for Lonl Plowden, since he did not know the name of the station they were to book for, and time was getting sho^ He dwelt w, h some annoyance upon his oversight in thU matter as his watchful glance ranged from on! entmnce to another. He would have liked to buy the tickets Wm |^"-'="=d yourself so day. But TtLTh T ' "^^ ^ '"^ """'^^ " to- p::.^;^otrrdorsrxi^--'..^ -^r "■' J^nown what our station was ' • « I d only dis'nist s:5:t 'm ^"' "'^ ^^^'"^ — » '<• and offered it ti Thorpe ' "^" '"'^ ''™" ""'^ P"^''^'. »^t;rru,r.;.tttcf "-t^' ^-^^^^^^^ of me. Vors1rn.r tolet 1 1 ht^ ' ^^^ "^^ rather upset me " mght-you know it r :c^ "£4, Tn "-- - - " Bu-t n eve y oncf iL a wh le tl J"" 'u '"'PP™ '° ^'^■"^"'ber of course it means ' th™ "7' ■"''' " '^ ^" '™« ' »"' does ,„ 1 . .f"""' " """■^^"'i '■'°es more to me than it ((I IHHI ! ■ ' 48 THE MARKET-PLACE li The train had come to a stop inside the gloomy, domed cavern of Cannon Street. Many men in silk hats crowded to and fro on the platform, and a number of them shook the handle of the locked door. There was an effect of curses in the sound of their remarks which came through the closed window. Mr. Thorpe could not quite restrain the impulse to grin at them. " Ah, that 's where you mistake," said Plowden, con- templating the mouthful of smoke he slowly blew forth. '* My dear man, you can't imagine anybody to whom it would mean more than it does to me— I hope none of those fellows have a key. They 're an awful bore on this tram. I almost never go by it, for that reason. Ah thank God we 're off !— But as I was saying, this thing makes a greater difference to me than you can think of I could n't sleep last night— I give you my word—the thmg upset me so. I take it you— you have never had much money before ; that is, you know from experience what poverty is ? " Thorpe nodded with eloquent gravity. ^ " Well-but you "-the other began, and then paused. What I mean is," he resumed, " you were never, at any rate, responsible to anybody but yourself. If you had only a sovereign a day, or a sovereign a week, for that matter, you could accommodate yourself to the require- ments of the situation. I don't mean that you would enjoy it any more than I should-but at least it was open to you to do it, without attracting much attention. But with me— placed in my ridiculous position— poverty has been the most unbearable torfare one can imagine. You see t'lere is no way in which I can earn a penny. I had to leave the Army when I was twenty-three— the other fellows all had plenty of money to spend, and it was im- possible for me to drag along with a title and an emoty f! ^-^i 1 i' • THE MARKET-PLACE ^g pocket I daresay that I ought to have stuck to it be- cause It IS „t nearly so bad now, but twelve years ago it Z-.J"T' '"' ^'°""r^ "''° '•^'' -y Pride Xu hmi-and of coarse, my father having made rather a name rn the Army, that made it so much harder for me And after that, what was there ? Of course, the bar and medicme and engineering and those things were out of the question, in those days at least. The ShurchMthat was more so still. I had a try at politics-but you ne^ money there as much as anywhere else-money or X famUy connections. I voted in practically every division for four years and I made the rottenest speeches you eTer after al ^tTT fT' "^^""^^ '" -''" ?'--•-" a billet in India at four hundred a year, and even that you took in deprecated rupees. When I tried to talk about Tad r,f "'""• ""^ P^^"'-"y '-g''^ in my fac^ I had no leverage upon them whatever. They did n't a home rr "'^"■" ' '"'^^ "? ^^ ^'^^^ - Wped vL r . . '"^J''"'^ ™' '^° '" °n«i»»t the same- yes twenty to one. So that door was shut in my face I ve never been inside the House since-except once to show, to an American lady last summer-but when I do nodTd' V I'^r ''"'^ "-""^ ^'°PP^d for an inltan" and nodded h,s handsome head significantly-' ■ I rather fa^cy I shall turn up on the other side " Tho^r ^ "'^"' '"'""^' '"English politics," interposed Plowden seemed not to perceive the connection. They had left London Bridge behind, and he put his feet un on ttr: waHhe'c't '"".' '^^"^ ^''■"^°"^"^- " «' -- acroLTo b! ^' ^''r"' °"' 'P^^^^S diagonally across to his companion, between leisurely interval, of auaurpuon ill iiiscigar " ■'I'l-.— i ^ ' .'■' There have been some directors' nrminifii 50 THE MARKET-PLACE fees, no doubt, and once or twice I 've come very near to what promised to be a big thing — but I never quite pulled it off. Really, without capital what can one do ? — I 'm curious to know — did you bring much ready money with you to England ? " " Betwc II six and seven thousand pounds." " And if it 's a fair question — how much of it have you got left?" Thorpe had some momentary doubts as to whether this was a fair question, but he smothered them under the smile with which he felt impelled to answer the twinkle in Plowden's eyes. " Oh, less than a hundred," he said, and laughed aloud. , Plowden also laughed. " By George, that 's fine ! " he cried. "It 's splendid. There's drama in it. I felt it was like that, you know. Something told me it was your last cartridge that rang the bell. It was that that made me come to you as I did — and tell you that you were a great man, and that I wanted to enlist under you. Ah, that kind of courage is so rare ! When a man has it, he can stand the world on its head." "But I was plumb scared, all the while, myself," Thorpe protested, genially. ' ' Courage ? I could feel it running out of my boots. ' ' " Ah, yes, but that 's the great thing," insisted the other. " You did n't look as if you were frightened. From all one could see, your nerve was sublime. And nothing else matters — it was sublime." " Curious — that thing happened to me once before," commented Thorpe, with ruminating slowness. " It was out on the plains, years ago, and I was in pretty hard luck, and was making my way alone from Tucson north, and some cowboys held me up, and were going to make kindliner wood of me. thev beinsr under the imoression THE MARKET-PLACE 5, aat I was a horse-thief they were looking after There a Tasf :e:rrhrH '"'" '""^ "''^" °^ "^'"^ "'* worth a last year s bird's-nest— and I tell you sir r wn<= ,1,. scaredest njan that ever drew the b'ea"i.Tf' 1 fe A„d 0,en somethtng happened to be said that put thTmatr the^ 7^1 '' ' M \ T "'^ ™°"^ "»-»°d then-why r » r,l^ '^°™ "y ""■°^'' ^^d 'hey rode with me all the way to the next town, and there they Janted to buy everything liquid in the place '.r „,e But Xt I was speaking of-do you know, ,Uosc Mlows got a ?^ mendous uofon of my nerve, n was n so much th^t they told me so, but they told otl.ers a'out it Thev rea ly hought I was game to the c. >- whe" i^eam^ as I tell you, I was .n the deadliest funk you ever hearf "That -s just it," said Plowden, "the part of vou which was engaged in making mental notes of he o^ca s on thought you were frightened ; we will saylhat it wa Itself frightened. But the other part of you theoartthat i:::trred"^'r'""^-rr° '^'''-'^^' '^^'ivz tS "Sd t eitr^e:::^ixr.'?^^ ^- •>""' "•'^ Thorpe shook his head. " What reminded me of him-there is an account in his Memoirs of how he felt when he first was given a °,^ mand at the beginning of the Civil War. He was look .ng about for the enemy, who was known To bTnth; vicinity, and the nearer he got to where this ^lemy ^rlb! ably was, the more he got timid and unnerved, he says until It seemed as if cowardice were getting comotrt; mastery of him. And then suddenly it'oc ufred Sm that very likely the enemy was iust as afrnid ofhin, ,- --^ was Of the enemy, and that moment his" bravery alt,;! ;f^ li * 52 THE MARKET-PLACE turned to him. He went in and gave the other man a terrible thrashing. It does n't apply to your case, par- ticularly — but I fancy that all really brave men have those inner convictions of weakness, even while they are be- having like lions. Those must have been extraordinarily interesting experiences of yours — on the plains. I wish I could have seen something of that part of America when I was there last year. Unfortunately, it did n't come my way." " I thought I remembered your sayiag you 'd been West." Plowden smiled. "I'm afraid I did think it was West at the time. But since jUiy return I 've been warned that I must n't call Chicago West. That was as far as I went. I had some business there, or thought I had. When my father died, that was in 1884, we found among his papers a lot of bonds of some corporation purporting to be chartered by the State of Illinois. Our solicitors wrote several letters, but they could find out nothing about them, and there the matter rested. Finally, last year, when I decided to make the trip, I recollected these old bonds, and took them with me. I thought they might at least pay my expenses. But it was n't the least good. Nobody knew anything about them. It seems they re- lated to something that was l)urned up in the Great Fire — either that, or had disappeared before that time. That fire seems to have operated like the Deluge — it cancelled everything that had happened previously. My unhappy father had a genius for that kind of investment. I shall have great pleasure in showing you tomorrow, a very picturesque and comprehensive colln ion of Confederate Bonds, Their fiice value is, as I remember it, eighty thousand dollars—that is, sixteen thousatid pounds. I would entertain with joy n offer of sixteen shillings for ther man a • case, par- have those ey are be- aordiuarily I wish I erica when ' t come my )U 'd been t was West /arned that ■ as I went. When my his papers ting to be itors wrote liing abont last year, d these old :y might at least good, ns they re- Great Fire me. That it cancelled y unhappy It. I .shall )w, a very Confederate it, eighty pounds. I hilUngs for THE MARKET-PLACE 53 the lot. My dear father bought them— I should not be surprised to learn that he bought them at a premium. If they ever touched a premium for a day, that is certainly the day that he would have hit upon to buy. Oh, it was too rare ! Too inspired ! He left nearly a hundred thou- sand pounds' worth of paper-that is, on its face-upon which the solicitors realized, I think it was thirteen hun- dred pounds. It 's hard to imagine how he got them- but there were actually bonds among them issued by Kos- suth's Hungarian Republic in 1848. Well— now you car see the kind of inheritance I came into, and I have a brother and sister more or less to look after, too." Thorpe had been listening to these details with an almost exaggerated expression of sympathy upon his face. The voice in which he spoke now betrayed, how- ever, a certain note of incredulity. " Yes, I see that well enough," he remarked. " But what I don't perhaps quite understand-well, this is it. You have this place of yours in the country, and preserve game and so 011-but of course I see what you mean It 's what you 've been saying. What another man would think a comfortable living, is poverty to a man in your position." " Oh, the place," said Plowden " It is n't mine at all. I could never have kept it up. It belongs to my mother It was her father's place ; it has been in their amily for hundreds ol years. Her father, I daresay you know, was the last Earl of Hever. The title died with him. He left three daughters, who inherited his estates and my mother, being the eldest, got the Kentish proper' ties. Of course Hadlow House will come to me eventually but It is hers during her lifetime. I may speak of it as my place, but that is niorelv n //»/•/,» ./., a..^/..„ . .-i. 1.. -.. . _ ._j-..._ .,, f-t-nt.- 11 J3 li t ncce."3- sary to explain to everybody that it 's my aiother's. It 'a ^f HMH ■■Mi SMM 54 THE MARKET-PLACE ';• H my home, and that 's enough. It 's a dear old place. I can't tell you how glad I am that you 're going to see it." " I 'm very glad, too," said the other, with unaffected sincerity. " All the ambitions I have in the world," the nobleman went on, sitting upright now, and speaking with a confi- dential seriousness, " centre round Hadlow. That is the part of me that I 'm keen about. The Plowdens are things of yesterday. My grandfather, the Chancellor, began in a very small way, and was never anythitig more than a clever lawyer, with a loud voice and a hard heart, and a talent for money-making and politics. He got a peerage and he left a fortune. My father, for all he was a soldier, had a mild voice and a soft heart. He gave a certain military distinction to the peerage, but he played hell-and-tommy with the fortune. And then I come : I can't be either a Chancellor or a General, and I have n't a penny to bless myself with. You can't think of a more idiotic box for a man to be in. But now— thanks to you — there comes this prospect of an inmiense change. If I have money at my back— at once everything is different with me. People will remember then promptly enough that I am a Hadlow, as well as a Plowden. I will make the party whips remember it, too. It won't be a Secre- tary's billet in India at four hundred a year that they '11 offer me, but a Governorship at six thousand— that is, if I wish to leave Kngland at all. And we '11 see which set of whips are to have the honour of offering me anything. But all that is in the air. It 's enough, for the moment, to realize that things have really come my way. And about that— about the succes-s of the affair— I suppose there can be no question whatever ? " " Not the slightest," Thorpe assured him. " Rubber Consols can go up to any figure we choose to name.'* i .■-.•»>». ?.it,,rf».„v,» .. . .^... ,. ^^ THE MARKET-PLACE d place. I : to see it." unaffected i nobleman ith a confi- Tliat is the )vvdens are Chancellor, thing more tiard heart, He got a all he was He gave a ; he played I come : I I have n't : of a more iks to you iiige. If I is different ;ly enough will make e a Secre- lat they '11 -that is, if : which set anything, e moment, ray. And •I suppose " Rubber ame." 55 Lord Plowden proffered the cigar case again, and once more helped himself after he had given his companion a light. Then he threw himself back against the cushions with a long sigh of content. " I 'm not going to say another word about myself," he announced, pleasantly. "I 've had more than my legitimate innings. You must n't think that 1 forget for a moment the reverse of the medal. You 're doing wonderful things for me. i only wish it were clearer to me what the wonderful things are that I can do for you." "Oh, that '11 be all right," said the other, rat'i.er vaguely. " Perhaps it's a little ePrly for you to have mapped out in your mind just what you want to do," Plovvden reflected aloud. "Of course it has come suddenly upon you-just as it has upor me. There are things in plenty that we 've dreamed cf doing, while the power to do them was a long way off. It does n't at all follow that these are the things we shall proceed to do, when the power is actually in our hands. But have you any plans at all ? Do you fancy going into Parliament, for example?" " Yes," answered Thcrpe, meditatively. " J think I should like to go into Parliament. But that would be some way ahead. I guess I 've got my plans worked out a tnfie more than you think. They may not be very definite, as regards details, but their main direction I know well enough. I 'm going to be an English country gentleman." Lord Plowden visibly winced a little at this annouuce- ment. He seemed annoyec' at the consciousness that he had done so. turning abruptly first to stare out of the window, then shiftiiur his position on thp «Pa^ n„^ „ i„-. stealing an uneasy glance toward his companion. Ap- , i '. ■i I!": 56 THE MARKET-PLACE loss for an appropriate parently his tongue was at a comment. Thorpe had lost none of these unwilling tokens of em- barrassment. Plowden saw that at once, but it relieved even more than it surprised him to see also that Thorpe appeared not to mind. The older man, indeed, smiled in good-natured if somewhat ironical comprehension of the dumb-show. " Oh, that '11 be all right, too," he said, with the evi- dent intention of reassurance. " I can do it right enough, so far as the big things are concerned. It '11 be in the little things that I '11 wart some steering." *' I 've already told you— you may command me to the utmost of my power," the other declared. Upon reflec- tion, he was disposed to be ashamed of himself. His nerves and facial muscles had been guilty of an unpardon- able lapse into snobbishness— and toward a man, too, who had been capable of behaviour more distinguished in its courtesy and generosity than any he had encountered in all the " upper circles " put together. He recalled all at once, moreover, that Thorpe's " h's " were perfect—and, for some occult reason, this completed his confusion. " My dear fellow "—he began again, confronting with verbal awkwardness the other's quizzical smile—" don't think I doubt anything about you. I know well enough that you can do anything— be anything— you like." Thorpe laughed softly. " I don"^. think you know, though, that I 'm a public- school man," he said. Plowden lifted his brows in unfeigned surprise. " No —I did n't know that," he admitted, frankly. " Yes, I 'm a Paul's Pigeon," Thorpe went on, "as they called them in my day. That 's gone out now, I 'm ^a^.--. -.iic^ vc iiiuvc-a to the uig DUiiaiiigs in iiam- / appropriate kens of em- t it relieved hat Thorpe i, smiled in ision of the ith the evi- :ht enough, il be in the i me to the pon reflec- nself. His unpardon- n, too, who shed in its mntered in :alled all at rfect — and, ision. nting with e— " don't ell enough ike." 1 a public- se. " No t on, ' • as now, I 'ra i in Ham- THE MARKET-PLACE 57 mersmith I did very well at school, too ; came out in he fr.. fourteen. But my father w;uld I'tTarrv the thing any ftirther. He insisted on my go „? ho th! shop when I left St. Paul's and learning theT tbusLs' He had precisely the same kind of dynastic idea vou ^T' . ;' V '^"°"^ ^^^^' His father and hfs grand hltadut r r^^^^ ^"^ ^^ -- ^-"^ to L'nTo ■ W n rt '"^-"^^'^ t^^t P^"l'« would help this~but that Oxford would kill it ^ ^ hours watcluug to see that men did n't put vo umesTn the,r pockets, and at the end of that time you 'd made a proht of ninepence. While von wprB ^™ " ^ son. fe„oww.,.edo,f Witt Xr:o'n;:ire:S iardthe^r W 'ZT: ' ''' "'' ■'"' " "^ «" Xe oTd man, either. We did n't precisely quarrel but T xv,.,* years, trying this thing and that. Once I started n h^oU shop Of my own-bnt I did no good here Cty turned It up altogetlier, and went to Australia. That was in ,88, I ve been in almost every quarter of the glote 2ce it known what it was to be shipwrecked iL molo.', ai d I ve lain down in a desert not .expecting to get up L^n with my belt tightened to its last hole for hmiger-but i otlferTml'l""^''"' '""'''='' ''" Tprectntion of the h h^„r, V T '""'" '°' " """"<=■". ""-"■> lifted nis neaU as if somptliinrr v.0,1 , , . - . "•'•cu were speaking of the plan that you should succeed to , oulj ■5/ »Mh:^>cmitKumk.mm>L^.,^i^l^ ill- 58 THE MARKET-PLACE ad your sou after you — you 're not father's busines:.. married, are you i Thorpe slowly shook his head. " Our station is the next," said the younger man. " It 's a drive of something under two miles. You 'd better light another cigar." He iidded, as if upon a casual afterthought : " We can both of us think of marry- ing now." ? ^^' -you 're not junger man. les. You 'd s if upoE a nk of marrv- / CHAPTER V pOR the next two hours, Thorpe's thoughts were iL , bW ff' """P'^" """ ™"°- Pha'ses of ti: k r ',''^^^=' """-'^^te service. He seemed suddenly to wh:: ri'pf '"f ^ tf^' '"''- -'-^'''^ ihe ?tatio° :,^' Jathert^thf K '" '"''"" '"^ '^-''=' ^''^ Thorpe had gathered the rugs about his knees and feet this menial silently associated himself with the young man XT. j tT"" wTAi'^"' '™» '°"»' °" '^^- bfck seat of t e trap. With these people so close behind him, Thorpe felt ndeeT'talk'o;'' '°""-""™ ^'^ °"' °' '"e qu^s i n -•• srso^'c '•'?' '"""""""« -"°'°«- 'o tt ninfa -so " Vr ■ "^ Pet.-«>-so-easy, my beauty-so -so - and h,s wrists and gloved hands were vfsibW X:^j:::'T^T'r °' '''^"'' - theTtid" S Thnrnft . ^"^ "'^''^'^ "^* »"d '"outl' Of Steel 'mXdX^:;r • r tt s;" 'r; vr '■" ^ e^rhet-wtlS^trhtnfrre' "B^^n: ^^'^'''- such a law of their life that. thZ ,! t Jl^'}?.''^^ he could not so much as hear them°sigh o^'^i^ "" ^''' 59 t ' 6o THE MARKET-PLACE It seemed but a very few minutes before they turned off, with but the most fleeting diminution of pace, upon a private road, which speedily developed into an avenue of trees, quite dark and apparently narrower than ever. Down this they raced precipitately, and then, coming out all at once upon an open space, swung smartly round the crescent of a gravel road, and halted before what seemed to be the door of a greenhouse. Thorpe, as he stood up in the trap, got an uncertain, general idea of a low, pale- coloured mansion in the background, with lights showing behind curtains in several widely separated windows ; what he had taken to be a conservatory revealed itself now to be a glass gallery, built along the front of the cen- tral portion of this house. A profusion of hospitable lights— tall wax-candles in brackets among the vines against the trellised wall — gave to this outlying entrance what the stranger felt to be a delightful effect. Its smooth tiled floor, comfortably be- strewn with rugs, was on a level with the path outside. There were low easy-chairs here, and a little wicker table bearing books and a lady's work-basket. Further on, giant chrysanthemum blooms were massed beneath the clusters of pale plumbago-flowers on the trellis. Directly in front, acrosc the dozen feet of this glazed vestibule, the broad doorway of the house proper stood open — with warm lights glowing richly upon dark woods in the luxurious obscurity within. What Thorpe noted most of all, however, was the ser- vants who seemed to swarm everywhere. The two who had alighted from the trap had contrived somehow mys- teriously to multiply themselves in the darkness. All at once there were a number of young men— at the horse's head, at the back and sides of the trap, at the first door- way, and the second, and beyond — each presenting such I THE MARKET-PLACE gl St!;^'''^' """I^' '''°™-'^d -^Plica of all the others that Thorpe knew he should never be able to tell them Lord Plowden paused for a moment under the canril,> hght to look at his watch. ■• We did it in a bi over eth" m mutes, • he remarked, with obvious satisfaction. ■' w!th z^^]:^^r' "'''' '''' ' °°' ^ '""'—' -^^^ They moved forward through the wide doorway into an apartmen the like of which Thorpe had not seen before It was a large, square room, with a big staircase at the end, wh,ch separated and went off to .Jht and kft U^ way up US visible course. Its floor was°of inlad woods old and tjneven from long use, and carpeted here and "here by the skms of tigers and leopards. There were manv other suggestions of the chase about the room „di^^ caught the eye at vanous points ; the heads of foxes and deer peeped out on the blackened panels of the wa'"s from among clusters of hooks crowded with coats ha s ana mackmtoshes. At the right, where a fire « aS ctl s a"ndd- ' 'T """^ ^"--^-P'-e, there were ow chairs and divans drawn up to mark ofl^a space for orderlv domes^ occupation. The irregularity of everything cut^ s.de-the great table in the centre of the hall strewn w.th an mcongruous litter of caps, books, flasks, newrpanerl gloves, tobacco-pouches ; the shoes, slippers and"eS?; scattered under the benches at the sMe -aU th? eff renewmg disorder of a careless household struck TWe with a profound surpri.se. It was like nothingsJmuTh as a Mexican ranch-and to find it in the ancestrd hont of an Enghsh nobleman, filled to overflowingt^h se ! vants, amazed him, '' ^" The glanc . that he cast about him, however, were im- !tf 62 THE MARKET-PLACE passive enough. His miiid was charged with the cease- less responsibility of being astoni«^h?d at nothing. A man took his hat, and helped hin^ , u .v;Vh ais coat. Another moved toward the stairc; - wxt^' hh: tWo bags. ^ " If you will follow P".ig bourn," said his host, indicat- ing this second domestic, " he will look after you. You would hke to go up and change now, would n't you? There 's a fire in your room." Thus dismissed, he went up the staiis in the wake of his portmanteaus, taking the turning to the left, and then proceeding by a long, low passage, round more than one corner, to what 'le conceived to be a wing of the house The servant usbered^him into a room-and, in despite of himself, he s: -hed with pleasure at the sight of it. The prettiest and most charming of rooms it seemed to him to be— spacious and quaintly rambling in shape, with a deli- cately-fig'.red chintz repeating the dainty effects of the walls upon the curtains and carpet nnd bed-hangings and chair-covers, and with a bright fire in the grate throwing its warm, cozy glow over everything He looked at the pictures on the walls, at die photographs and httle ornaments on the writing desk, and the high posts and silken coverlet of the big bed, and, secure in the averted face of the servant, smPed richly to himself. This servant, kneeling, had unstrapped aid opened the new bags. Thorpe looked ; iee h-- 1 quit ,e room, this task accomplished, and was conscious of something like dismay at the discovery that he intended to unpack them as well. Pan-bourn began g^xvtiy to unwrap one papc parcel after another and to assort their contents iu little heaps on the sofa beside him. He did it * utly im- perturbably, as if all the gentlemen I. had ever 'seen can- ,ed their belongings in packages C ; u by trades- men. ^ *. THE MARKET-PLACE 63 After circling WIv ha„'^, •, V'"*'' "°' «"er these words, the bags for f 1 ttle' tte r^''" "^' '"°"' "'^ »^» ^"^ -cm elbetter fir himto 'say "°™'"''' ""^""'"^ "'"^'^ " things'" "he ';:rarred' f" 'n "' ^"'^ '° "^'^^ "^ "^o- buying theirda '-land /do ?; t " ""' r" "^^ '^-» have forgotten. My who e outfit of Tw"' ""^ "^"^ ""' went astray or was strZ, , ""^' *°" °f ^^'"S first part of the reek-hlT' "'"°" °^ ""'^^-"'e " Yes .iir •- M ^ " ""'^' ■'"^^ been Leeds " ■■Thl;\e::;ycareL,^f;'f-™' -""- -'- -:::"^™eargTj^„fu!:"byT 'j-'^ "-^ - and tie beside them and arrrng'tt "'"^ °"' ' "''" brushes on the dressing taWe 11 "'"J ^'^P' ^"d everythinsr-for th,.r» „ !' ^ ^'^""^<* '» foresee the doc; tike ass duUv^n •'°' '" '"^"""''^ "«■'"««<>=' "' handker. efs n t e H *"°^''=»^"'^. as he bestowed pyjamas be/; he fcarsetr'' '" "'°*^'- '"■"S against th ,_ der E^e tl:e o M J"''""'^''" ''"'"^' seemed in „o way cfec ,rerf I ,',"" =''°°'tag-suit constituent elem , af 2h ' ";• "" '^'"" ''°^"' ^'^ had hung them up, s^^ro" ^T^T ' ""f l!^ against the wall, thev had f1,» f • t V' "'^ wardrobe able oaken receMade font .-.A'"^ ""'''"'? """ ^^n^^ pressly for thcT '* '''"' '^^" '""^"'""^d ex- Thorpe's earlier uneasiness quite lost it. -If i u- , m.rat.on for Pangbonrn's resource uld^xteA T." f " hghted thought that now he woidd bl?».^ ' ' " ^''^ this for himself crossed h,smZ7 r- ^"^ " ■""" '"^^ f-.. get t,,3 i,e„.,S tn"bour,,-.~'L':^ »*«.^' were. Money could command everything o^u thif^d 64 THE MARKET-PLACE globe— and why not Panglourn ? He tentatively felt of the coins in his pocket, as it became apparent that the man's task was nearing completion— and then frowned at himself for forgetting that these things were always re- served for the end of a visit. " Will you dress now, sir '" asked Pangbourn. His soft, distinct enunciation conveyed the suggestion of cen- turies of training. " Kh ? " said Thorpe, finding himself for the moment behind the other's thought. " Shall you require me any further, sir ? " the man re- framed the question, deferentially. " Oh ! Oh— no," replied Thorpe. " No— I '11 get along all right. " ' I.eft to himself, he began hurriedly the task of shaving and dressing. The candles on either side of the thick, bevelled swinging mirror presented a somewhat embar- rassing contrast to the electric light he was used to— but upon second thought he preferred this restrained aristo- cratic glimmer. He had completed his toilet, and was standing at the bay-window, with his shoulder holding back the edge of the curtain, looking out upon the darkened lawn and wondering whether he ought to go downstairs or wait for someone to summon him, when he heard a knock at his door. Before he could answer, the door opened, and he made out in the candle- and firelight that it was Lord Plowden who had come in. He stepped forward to meet his host who, clad now in evening-clothes, was smokine a cigarette. " Have they looked after you all right ? " said Plowden nonchalantly. " Have a cigarette before we go down ? Ivight It by the candle. They never will keep matches in a bedroom. ' ' get THE MARKET-PLACE g 'ooked down at his SsZ! Zi^^ "^ "'^ --'^■^ coupk of ladies visiting her ol J,."'' ^■''^■- ^as a know. Do you remember oTshSbl^ »"! ^ '"'"^ ^"^ an American, you know-verT ?u 'i'' ^'^ Madden- red h^r-rather remarrahS Ts""^' '^''^ ''^^'^ 1 remember the lady ■' said Th ' but we did n't meet." He 'oH^''"' "P°" '^"^^^'i™. tone of the hint that in tho.fdays h h °' """"^ <"^^^' W^ that because he saw ladies it wL''"°""''°'''''"°«'-d them. ^"'^ " was open to him to know Lord Plowden smiled a little '■ r>i. She -s great fun-if she ', i^!t' °^' ^^ " '■>= her. «^ter-I had them caU on CrtTr^/- ""^ """"^^ ^-^ they took a great fancy to hr T" '''' '"""^-^""^ money, you know-at leasi° ^li,- ^^^ ^ S°t no end of unfortunately Her nf ! '"""■ ""<' a half-dollars ii= pile in the w^gg^ b,? ""■' '*''-'>« father made A-erican as if tTeX^^^d^;' '^"^^^-''" ^"^ -s Sunflower ' > ~aa tL-^t ^'^ 'n-what was it the for assimilation, thtt AmeSfsT^' ""^"^^ons.::^; told you-it -s put suchT , °" remember what I "^^o:;rob^d~-Ssv of smok!, in" s-re^. '"ThSf ' *™"^'' ^ "^ ^- ^rtThrj::s.^-----rnr^t'^--s -.e.^'^Vo:'^; rUrit rt"' " '^ ^^"^^ Cres. , "h= marneu a shocking bou„i;_i;;~ P ■I j. & (& THE MARKET-PLACE have l)cen Duke of Glastonbury, though, it he had lived —but he was drowned, and she was left poor as a church mouse. Oh ! by the way ! " he started up, with a gleam of aroused interest on his face—" it did n't in the least occur to me. Why, she 's a daughter of our General Kervick. How did he get on the Board, by the way ? Where did you pick him up ? " Thorpe bent his brows in puzzled lines. " Why, you introduced me to him yourself, did n't you ? " he asked, slowly. Plowden seemed unaffectedly surprised at the sugges- tion, as he turned it over in his mind. " By George ! I think you 're right," he said. " I 'd quite forgotten it. Of course I did. Let me see— oh yes, I reconstruct it readily enough now. Poor old chappie— he needs all he can get. lie was bothering her about money— that was it, I remember now— but what an idiot I was to forget it. But what I was saying— there 's no one el.se but my mother and sister, and my brother Balder. He 's a youngster — twenty or thereal)outs— and he purports to be reading for his exams for the Army. If they opened his head, though, I doubt if they 'd find anything but cricket and football, uidcss it might be a bit of golf. Well- that 's the party. I thought you might like to have a 'lotion of them in advance. If you 'vc finished your cigarette "—he threw his own into the grate, and rose as he spoke—" we may as well be moving along. By the way," he concluded, as they walked toward the door, " I 've an idea that we won't say anything, just at the moment, about om great coup. I should like to keep it as a little surprise— for my mother and sister, you know." Some two hours later, Thorpe found the Ici.surc and the restored equanimity needful for a dispassionate survey of THE MARKET-PLACE from tl e group ove/by the foeT ''"'^"'"''y detached room a„d was for the first Mnww"" "'^ ^'« ""»'i"g- at his ease. It „,as a 1 much ta^f' "''"'"« ^^^^^ ■»'='=^' "■an he had feared. He stooHf '' "P°" "^P"""«". oniate apartment whitl!^ri i ., '" '' "Corner of the '»e pictures on the w Ps J^d c™ rl"^'' '" '=''='""»^S "■e five people who,, ,; h ' left TT "'r' '''"' ^"-^-'-'y -•'h enormous sh^;,' T^^f h'^ri"^-''"" ^-'h, Slraw-coloured hair a„d ' "■ '"""'^' ^^d pale amiably .,a.„..ered bcs 'e hi,r"r„d"" ^^■^'— -had "s benefit „ow, i„ slow InLlf T "'"""ating for fathomable u.ystery co,,,,'e :d ^h";; f''''^' --- ""■ of two d,sti„ct breeds of terr,Vr,T ""^'"K attitude ™om, just withi,, reach of efl°:""' ""'■ ^""''^ "'- from the hearth, the Am, , ,V '''"^"'"S ruddy firelight «ated at the Vii!^^^^^^' «'» Madden, vta ■""-.c. Tho,.pe bent'^l^s he.d a,, r """ ""'"do^.f,,! attention but i„ truth he it f '■"""""■ an air of able Balder uor th pi, o 'In'f .f'"'/'"^ '"= "°"0"r- H-a."-c hi„, fr„,„ .„. "f her welcome h..U>..TZl^f,"^T"'''- "■o"'<=rliness ont t!,e eveniuR. K|,e ha „„, ' .'''™' "'"^''or through. a"d su,i,e aud Uvi.dc, l.^ !,!""/f ^■" 'o -d her h':, •Pectacles at hi,,,, wheneve i,; '"\'^'"' "'^'"^b their ncWre^sed I,er. Nor did l,L„l,"T' "'. '"ok he had ""» "'" ber „,a„„er to people^':"!' ""'f "'Pi*,,, tl,at people m geucral, justify jtseif 68 THE MARKET-PLACE 11 upon observation. She was civil, even excessively civil, to the other two guests, but these ladies did not get the same eager and intent smile that he could com- mand. He reasoned it out that Plowden must have said something pleasant to his mother about him — per- haps even to the point of explaining that he was to be the architect of their fortunes— but he did not like to ascribe all her hospitable warmth to that. It was dear to him to believe that she liked him on his own merits — and be did believe it, as h'!s softened glance rested upon her where she sat almost facing him in her padded, wicker chair — small, white-haired, rosy-cheeked, her intelligent face radiating a kind of alert placidity which somehow made him feel at home. He had not been as much at home with the others. The Honourable Balder, of course, did n't count ; nobody paid attention to him, and least of all a busy Rubber King. He gave not much more heed to the American— the tall young woman with the red hair and the million and a half of dollars. She was plainly a visitor like him- self, not at all identified with the inner life of the house- hold. He fancied, moreover, that she in no way desired to be thus identified. She seemed to carry licrself with a deliberate aloofness underlying her surface amiability. When he had spoken his few words with her, once or twice, he had got this effect of stony reserve close beneath her smile and smooth words. True, this might mean only that she felt herself out of her element, just as he did — but to him, really it did not matter what she felt. A year ago — why, yes, even a fortnight ago — the golden rumour of millions would have .shone round her auburn hair in his eyes like a halo. But all that was changed. Calcu- lated in !i solidified currency, her rejjorted fortune shrank to a. mere tiiiSt; iiUa-afeu tuousaud pouuds. It was a re- THE MARKET-PLACE 69 spectable sum for a "othiug to <,u,cke„ a^ZunZ"' "° ''°"'"' '="' i' did considered her. '"'"'fference with which he -aTed togerherora's^rsTr^'? '"'''^""'- T"^>- "■- of view, that he sal^wVl, >" ''^"''"' '"'^ P""" 0/ the faces they tlne^to^aM the' '^''°^"'' P™*"- >t was not visible to hi,,, ihJ . P""'"' Although tow him that they wl e ,';tl^„rr":r °' '""'^ ^'-""Id^^- ■"S the other's hand Th "adf llf '""^'^ -=<> h""- h>s mind of the way Zl ,' . """ "^" '«''<^''' '■> young women. It hi bll r ""^, ■°«''''"''' these two a" the evening, that twf" "i" "P°" '"'^ P^'-<=eptio„s stately Lady S^essage 'r„d the " ', '""""''"■ ^^"'" shouldered daughter of the I, """"' ™'""'J-' "-ot-d. Pi«ce-nee from und ■ u duly thT.Tbn'K''' '"""«" "- party of their own Tlwir . "^ ''™"^' '<'™ed a heen as identical in all t7m.,r ".'^'" '""""■'' '■"» had servation asif they had bee "'? ""f/ *^"""^^ ""d ^e- oentre. It would be .nr^aTr T r'"" '^'"" " '""«'^ '>"■•'- manner that they dSik d L, 1 '° """"^ ^''"" "'^'> impressed by hi,,, t,,„ « ' °'^"'^''^ <=ven unfavourably too delicate I thi ^^ to ' , -T^ "' ^ """"'" ™-^ '" nations. It was rath "r t .ei c. * '"''' ™'^'' ^'■""^t"'- his interest. He tho ^ ' ,! co^ld? "f """" P'' '^-^ "Pon a connuon demeanour t?,f "'^t they united although of course thevk," , ""' "'^ '^"■erican .,rl ■'■■ew bin.. It :: Tet '::, - »-h better than they "ot traces of this co„,binaron t I ei t'" """ """^ ''"' den and the H„n„u,able Balder T.^ "'"V°"'"-d PIow- ha-'"«' "■■'ew thread of dark trtcTrv wh h™ : r'"""' ""'^ ^"' "^ '^e and lips and chin ft I ,"""!""' '^"'^''^^d ""- "^^^"^ grace and co.nposure vl,?. "J"'"''- '^'"^ P"'^^ and lady-they we^al k^re ^"'!,"'.^'-^''o.y. of the great And yet-why she w!! ! '"P''^'"^ expression, the daughter of h is oM Ge"° ^7^' ''"' ^' ""• «"« "as and I.a„ghti,y-h„: bt o^d „m ta '""'T'"' ''^^^"'"'- grey moustache and tht nrem I, ^<-^''"''^'"='"' «'th the tteTL::id":'yer^^^^^^^^^^ t^'ieving her fro°„ h"; feC """'■ ''™ '" ""^^ '^°"^ have had i. very ■m.oh t ^^ ^ h":"" ' "*=■"-' roundabout plan of gettinir tt- nil f '"™""''' "'<•■ ship. But no-there w.loM,i f ""'•■"■an a director- "ad even forgotte,,L:ut; "':;;"''''■ ^''^' '''-''- name. I. „..„„„ „,,, he,n his si«" ™^'^''^'"' *'""'^^''' """ently such duuns „.itb I.ad, CreLl "r"' "'"" "^^ tlie h.nt to help the GenernI ,„ f ' "■''° Save inm And when you^an.e 7oZl ^ nb"""^-'' "^ ™""'- m'l.tary men a„d so on h' d „' ."■ ^'* aristocrats and money save by directorship;' "cCw TT" "' T''"' of It. Plowden had .„„,...,.,...'„';: "■" was the way the chance ,tOK to iriv,. th. '^."J' u'^" "'" ' '"""'■ w"™ .- the old boy a .eg „;:':;dZ: n THE MARKET-PLACE had clean forgotten the circumstance. The episode rather increased his liking for Plowden. He glanced briefly, under the impulse of his thought to where the peer sat, or rather sprawled, in a big low chair before the fire. He was so nearly recumbent in it indeed, that there was nothing to be seen of him but aii elbow, and two very trim legs extended to the brass lender. Thorpe's gaze reverted automatically to the face of General Kervick's daughter. He wondered if she k^new aj^out the Company, and about him, and about his ability o solidify to any extent her father's financial posi- tion. Even more, upon reflection, he wondered whether sue was very fond of her father ; would she be extremely gratami to one who should render him securely comfort- able for hfe ? Miss Madden rose from the piano before Thorpe noted that t..e music had ceased. There came from the others a soft but fervent chorus of exclamations, the sincerity and enthusiasm of which made him a little ashamed He had evidently been deaf to something that deeply moved the rest Even Balder made remarks which seemed to be regarded as apposite. "What ^^ it?" asked Lady Cressage, with obvious leeiing, I don't know when anything has touched me so much." "Old Danish songs that I picked up on the quai in Fans ior a franc or two," replied Miss Madden " I arranged and harmonized them-and, oddly enough the result is rather Keltic, don't you think ? " " We are all of us Kelts in our welcome to music-and music,ans-like this." affirmed Lord Plowden, who had scrambled to his feet. With sudden resolution, Thorpe moved forward and jouied the conversation. CHAPTER VI one in either the hall or the Mass vesHhuLJ '""' "° about. Both doors were waeo^r''"''^™^"''"'''^'' damp mornine air ZZ T ' '"'"'<=^". '» the mild, thatLsiess :f„^m.ort;b.e I'uThrr' ""^ r'^ ^ ^^p forth to look about him '""■'■ """ ^""'"^d .eas'^^diirrj :xr^: ^r d^ ^ -- - -^'^ P-.io„ of bad .ireims^buu^about'; u"T:':f,;.T, a™ :r;i;Td biuhif "^ '" "■■" '■' ""^^ ">"- ^™^' ' affair. 'it'hfdtL' TtoTm "^ ^heTf '^^ '^^'^^'^''"^ viving consciousness fW ^ . ' """"'es of re- discredited^an tTein, ZT ''°P'''=^">' """=d aud so compi:?e""; vfd :: "L '""'" "'' "''''■ '""-". 'ater. ^. bad notrke','; oVrLV::rs' '"'"' "•^" "" ""^ gratlTS to th:t!r7'"' "''^ ^'™"^'' ^'o"*^ 'he were still et-^^tfoflLfe ^XZe '7cL' ""b"^ It was easy enotitxh l,^,.> • *i. , ^ ' ^^ course, but that theyLXt uX^^^^^ to demonstrate no„se„. to borrow troubTa 30 ^X^^^^ !^ -« the situation in painstaking deH and .f ^'^^''""^ was all right, ora^^ nearlv 111 Tu ^ ^''^'-'' P°^"' '* c«„M u.. ,V •'"'-''^^^ ^""ght as any human hu«,-n«.. _„,... _ ^, ,^^^^.^^ ^^^^^^j^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ tins ifb^jlish 73 :( : t H THE MARKET-PLACE easy he takes tl.fngs ' °""' 'P'"'' " ^^^ J""" J', ™!."'"''^"'='We that Lord Plowden took things verv easily indeed. He had talked with eloquence and fee^fnT about the miseries and humiliations o{ a peeraletnade Wmsel^ IoII'h ^^ ^" °'"''"'""' "y^- The nobleman n.m.elf looked the very image of contented prosperity The place was overrun with servants. There was a Zl ei M m^s^ \srarorrd7 'r "'" ^ one s^sT, 'i il°:T- """ "° '5°«''' '"^y were in and toHr' . ^f "' "''''^'<' '" fi'' '"^ niind upon and to draw strength for himself from was the mv cou.ge^w,th which these Plowdens behav^ls' « t^^ I,i3i''lT"""'' ■" "'^ '■""'of "«-' ''""se, hemmed in bv ?Il h ^^ H ""' ''''" '"'"' "'"' ^^'="'^i to Ta public road beyond, were fairly spacious, but the sleek decornm .nt ?estinr'HeTk'Htl"^ " ^''^' "'»• "^ -" "^ .f r;rthe"da;rht'^ra;^ t^r, i"; r rder what^a historic E».H. country-hou Jo/Le'mi.forli:: There had been a period in his youth when architecture ^1.. J \.'^*™^r. Not tnuch remained to nim now of the cUssihcaUoas «>d phraseology which he had go7e to the THE MARKET-PLACE trouble of menioriziue in ■ f r =■ ''^ looked at buildings wUh a ki"i fer-off t.me, but he still ness. Hadlow Houle said t ,, .f ™'^=^^''»"'l ~nscious- ie was pleased wiHim elf iL'f 'f """S^ '° "im, and was not new in any par anL «.""""''"'« """"• " pretentious in iZ^^T'^^l; Y "'^^ "^^ "°"""S or a fortified residence M^' • , "'^''^'' ''^^" =■ <^^s'Ie. needs distinguished its t>r^ 7°''"' '"'^'•""°'' '" ^^-W^ »; builders, if had been p?anndT"r"'' '"™ ''' °"^"'-' gentle people, at some ^i,? '' '■'"''' ^^ ^ '>°»e for already^iib e 4" "e"rT?°? '"'^ ^*=" "' '^= fighting to defend tiem S °n 7' '"""^^' """"^ and infinitely comfortabt hk? T "^ '^'"'^ '''=" "^ <=^ta from that day to this'^'ne Sed t "'^'i '^^" ^^^-^ tioned the previous evenW that tt ^ ""^ ^"""^ " "^'- ^■te of an old monastery N„f ^f .,.°"'" ^^°'^ "P™ "^e being built in a hollow' w,^I,M? *'" '"'=°""'^"°^ it^ -lute level of the e «h 'o^ fdf ^he^'-T?" "^^ ^•'- chosen these low-lvino- T2 ';, ^ "'""'^^ bad always Why shn.ald they lave dn '''?^ "'^'^ '^'"'^'^'•^ then came to a suTden I» , ," ^' ""^ wo„dered-and what surprised contemlT,?''""' "'^°'''='» '" ^ «°»«- He was becoming hS^'t""'.'' "T ^^^-'o" "■ '"mself bad begun to thfow ope^'^'t"";^"' "'"^ish ! His mind •uusings, its long-closed donfr 4 t f"" "'""^bts and - much as a la!, in the t^S h J^l""'' "^^^ ^"'^ ^'^^^^^ that boyhood of ea 'erM ''*'^-^''°P •' For many years ^emedtohim to be!oL toT "•' ?' """'^'^ P-''^^ '=^d once, it came back to hta , '°"'^ "'^- ^ow, all at that he could take uo l^r '•°™ P°^^^=''°" ' be felt them, perhaps evt?ithth! 'T ™'^" ""= "^"^ -^^PP^d Visions rose ZVr'jt ?^ '^P'' ""^"' ^^-^st. -d g.,:^rh^i;ri: it's-^^^^^^^^^^^^ '"' ---..e gross ostentation of thTunkttTr^' pTrvZ m^. 76 THE MAPKET-PLACE .ndmdual culture. The thought took instant hold upon h.s nterest. By that road, his progress to the goal o" genttlrty would be smooth and simple. He seemed not to have reasoned it out to himself in detail before, but himself, as if he had come out of the gutter > Why indeed? He had passed through -and with HM '. .°~°T °' "•^ «"'' P«"'= ^*°<5- of Engirnd He had been there on a footing of perfect equality so far as he saw, with the sons of aristocratic familL or of grea City potentates. And as to birth, he had behind him three generations at least of scholarly men, men who knew the contents, as well as the commercial value of the books they handled. ' His grandfather had been a man of note in his calling. The tradition of Lord .A'.horp's conBdence in him, and Legend ■^LT"!'." ' ""^"""^ '^^^'""'^ " G""™ unlerth/ ". "' """' gm3hed collector, under the very nose o. hH hot rival, the Duke of Marl borough was tenderiy che^shed as an heirloom i„ the o d hop. And Thorpe's father, too, though no such siigle achievement crowned his memory, had been the advifer and, as one might say, the friend of many notable writers and patrons of literature. The son of such foTbea s ge^ttr ^ """"' '° '' -~^"-^ 'y -"ybo^V as a On his mother's side, now that he thought of it there was somethmg perhaps better still than a heritage of was S ormont and he remembered well enough the solemnity with which she had always alluded to tSe fact m the course ol domestic discussions. Who the Stor- 'T\V( 'TWO HORSES UTIM lUOERS, AIMANCIVr >•,- . MICROCOPY RESOIUTION TEST CHART (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1^ Hi. tii 2.8 ■ 3.2 40 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 J /APPLIED IMHGE Inc 1653 Call Moir StrMi Roch»»t»r, N«w York 1«809 USA {7\6) 482 - 0300- Phont (71ft) 2S8 - Stag - rmi THE MARKET-PLACE 77 monts were he could not recall that he bad ever learned but h,s mother had been very dear indeed about tS his aster whether she knew anything about them In the meantnne there was no denying that Stormom was a fine-souudn,g name. He reflected that it was his own rcar^nttrr"tT "'^ '"^'''"'' f"'^^' -e"-^' f- him It was an inspiration ! "Joel " he had not used for so many years that now, after six months' familiarity with it on h,s sister's lips, he could not get accustomed to i The colourless and non-committal style of "T S Thoroe " under which he had lived so long, had been well Zugh for the term of h,s exile-the weary time of obscure toil and suspense. But now, in this sunburst of smilh.g for tune when he had achieved the right to a name of dis- tmct on-hcre it was ready to his hand. A fleelSie question as to whether he should carry the"T" alo f as an initial put itself to his mind. He decided vigor ously agauLst it. He had always had a prejudice agaiitst men who .n the transatlantic phrase, pa'rtid eith;?C iiair or their names m the middle. He had made his unheeding way past the house to the from the previous evening's drive. To his right an open space of roadway led off in the direction of'the sX As he hesitated, in momentary doubt which course to stood still. In a moment there came into view round a curve in the leafy distance, two horses with ri ^rs " vancug at a brisk canter. Soon he perceived M t, ! riders were ladies ; tliev drew r„-„ .1 the ar-- -■ ^ hun, and the,, it was to be see.; That" thtwer'^h:;:;;? ;8 THE MARKET-PLACE ne had judged to be such close friends last night-Lady Cressage and the daughter of the house. They smiled and nodded down at him. as he lifted his cap and bowed. Their cheeks were glowing and their eyes sparkling with the exhilaration of their ride Even the Hon. Winifred looked comely and distinguished in his eyes, under the charm of this heightened vivacity She seemed to carry herself better in the saddle than she did out of It ; the sweep of her habit below the stirrup lent dignity to her figure. But her companion, whose big chestnut mount was pacing slowly toward the stepping-block -how should he bring within the compass of thought the impressions he had had of her as she passed ? There seemed to have been no memory in his mind to prepare him for the beauty of the picture she had made. Slender, erect, exquisitely- tailored, she had gone by like some queen in a pageant gracious yet unapproachable. He stared after her, mutely bewildered at the effect she produced upon him-until he saw that a groon had run from the stable-yard, and was helping the divinity to dismount. The angry thought that he might have done this himself rose within him- but there followed swiftly enough the answering conv' tion that he lacked the courage. He did not even advance to proffer his services to the other young ladv, while there was still time. The truth was. he admitted ruefully to himself, they unnerved him. He had talked freely enough to them, or rather to the company of which they made part, the previous evening. Ihere had been an hour or more, indeed, before the party broke up, in which he had borne the lion's share of the ta k-and they had appeared as frankly entertained as the others. In fact, when he recalled the circle of faces to wiii(-l> he bTl "fi^ir""--"-' 1--'- ' - ■ - It; {.„a „G«rc.-7.ncu iu3 luunoiogue oi reminiscences— THE MARKET-PLACE 79 curious experiences and adventures in Java and the Argen- tine, in Brazil and the Antilles and Mexico and the far West-It was in the face of Lady Cressage that he seemed to discern the most genuine interest. Why should she frighten him, then, by daylight > The whimsical theory that the wine at dinner had given him a spurious courage occurred to him. He shrugged his shoulders at it, and, with his hands in his pockets, turned toward the stables. The stable-yard is, from some points of view, the pret- tiest thing about Hadlow. There is a big, uneven, grass- grown space, in the centre of which, from a slight mound springs an aged oak of tremendous girth and height All around this enclosure are buildings of the same pale yel- lowish brick as the mansion itself, but quaintly differing one from another in design and size. Stables, carriage- houses, kennels, a laundry, a brewery, and half a dozen structures the intention of which is now somewhat uncer- tain—some flat-topped, some gabled, others with turrets or massive grouped chimr.jys, or overhanging timbered upper stories— form round this unkempt, shadowed green a sort of village, with a communai individuality of its own A glance shows its feudal relation to, and dependence upon, the great house behind which it nestles ; some of the back-kitchens and offices of this great house, indeed straggle out till they meet and merge themselves into this quadrangle. None the less, it presents to the enauiring gaze a specific character, of as old a growth, one'might think, as the oak itself Here servants have lived, it may be, since man first learned the trick of setting his foot on his brother's neck. Plainly enough, the monks' servants lived and worked here ; half the buildings on the side nearest the house belong to their time, and ono nf them still bears a partially-defaced coat of arms that must have 8o THE MARKET-PLACE belonged to an Abbot. And when lay lord succeeded c eric, only the garb and vocabulary of servitude were altered in this square. Its population crossed themselves less and worked much harder, but they remained in a world of their own, adjacent and subject to the world of their masters, yet separated from it by oh ! such countless and unthinkable distances. Thorpe sauntered along the side of the stables He counted three men and a boy who visibly belonged to this department. The dog-cart of the previous evening had been run out upon the brick-pavement which drained the stables, and glistened with expensive smartness now beneath the sponge of one of the hostlers. Under cover he discerned two other carriages, and there seemed to b- at least half a dozen horses. The men who, in the half gloom of the loose-boxes, were busy grooming these ani- mals made a curious whistling noise as they worked Everybody in the yard touched a forelock to him as he passed. From this quaint, old-world enclosure he wandered at his leisure, through an open gate in the wall at the back into the gardens behind the house. There was not much in the way of flowers to look at, but he moved about quite unconscious of any deprivation. A cluster of greenhouses massed against the southern side of the mansion, attracted his listless fancy, and he walked toward what appeared to be an entrance to them. The door was locked, but he found another further on which opened to his hand The air was very hot and moist inside, and the place was so filled with broad-leaved, umbrageous tropical plants that he had to stoop to make his way through to the en,l. The next house had a more tolerable atmosphere, and con- tained some blossoms to which he gave momentary atten- tion. In the third house, through the glass-door, he could THE MARKET-PLACE 8l see a man-evidently a gardener-lifting some pots to a shelf overhead. The thought occurred to him that by entering into con- versation with this man, he might indirectly obtain a hint as to the usual breakfast-hour at Hadlow. It was now nearly ten o'clock, and he was getting very hungry. Would they not ring a bell, or sound a gong, or some- thing ? he wondered. Perhaps there had been some such summons, and he had not heard it. It might be the in- telligent thing for him to return to the house, at all events, and sit in the hall where the servants could see him, in case the meal was in progress. Looking idly through the glass at the gardener, mean- while. It suddenly dawned upon him that the face and figure were familiar. He stared more intently at the man casting about in his memory for a clue to his identity It came to him that the person he had in mind was a fellow named Gafiferson, who had kept an impoverished and down-at-the-heels sort of hotel and general store on the road from Belize to Boon Town, in British Honduras Yes, it undoubtedly was Gafferson. What on earth was he doing here ? Thorpe gave but brief consideration to this problem. It was of more immediate importance to recall the circum- stances of his contact with the man. He had made Gaffer- son's poor shanty of an hotel his headquarters for the better part of a month-the base of supplies from which he made numerous prospecting tours into the mountains of the in- terior. Had he paid his bill on leaving ? Yes, there was no doubt about that. He could even recall a certain pity for the unbusiness-like scale of charge;,, and the lack of perception of opportunity, which characterized the bill in Question. ITf» rf>nif>tiihprof1 tir«'«' It'" -• ._-•_- ^i_. ^ «. son would never do any good. It would be interesting to 82 THE MARKET-PLACE r :r::. "t"'^ "°""> - «-'' - h::;^^^^^^^^^ gesture toward iLtp 7^°"??''' "* "° ^'S" °f '^ at the pots on the ta^. al°Z w'"'"' ."' ' '*" "> '^^ "What are you ^^^>'T.^Z rl^'' ''''"''■ tone of one wlio is in nn^»J r? , ' " "'^ tentative to be affable. "'"^ of .nformation, but desires o.hlr°^'."Io:f "^Jfolr."'^'"^'"^^'" — edthe •en. upright, dofeT" tlfe"',:: "it tf f'^' ""' ' '*« you think about it ■• ^ ' *"""*" '" ™=on, if HirS'h:':::tL"l^''r' r* ^°"-'-- 1- manner with the pracfised ""^T""^^"^' "^ Gaifei^on's and thought that nS H "a 7th "^ ^'='""^''^'^- He perceived that therf wl ^" ™' "°' =» sure, gardener, as furthe desuUorv '''^^^Snition of him. The -ensiS . vS-rhrhra.r;pS°"-"-^ was iz^;zz rr a^tts^ t ""^'-^ ^ ■ • '^■'-p^ other's stare of puzzled enoufrv , "'""" "P°» "'« Galferson, are n't vou > TT ^\ "'^'" °" ^ " ^ou 're you, you were r nTng a s "oThalTw '^'"' ' '^^' ^- side of Behze. That was in "o'.'' '""'''■ '' "'"^^ uninformed eye "I sunnnf ^ '"' ^ ^'^"^^^^ ^ut pingatGoveLent'Hore:^rr:^l^J-^-stop. ^— luaX was had pro- re was no 3ened the -upation, sign of a i to look ^ things. :entative t desires sred the It I like ason, if 3n. In Person's ■yard — io sure. . The swork ;e, but atirely ^horpe )n the ou 're st saw other nth a il but stop- Was THE MARKET-PLACE 83 m Sir Roger Goldsworthy's time. They used to come out often to see my flowers. And so you remembered my name. I suppose it was because of the Gaffersoniana hybrids. There was a good bit in the papers about them last spring." Thorpe nodded an assent which it seemed better not to put into words. «« Well, it beats all," he mused aloud. Why, man, there 's gold in those mountains! You had an inside track on prospecting, placed as you were. And there 's cocoa— and some day they '11 coin money in rub- ber, too. All that country 's waiting for is better com- munications. And you were on the spot, and knew all the lay of the land-and yet here you are back in Eng^ land, getting so much a month for messing about in the mud." He saw swiftly that his reflections had carried him be- yond his earlier limit, and with rapidity decided upon frankness. " No, I was n't in the Governor's outfit at all I was looking for gold then— with occasionally an eye on rubber. I stopped at your place. Don't you remember me? My name 's Thorpe. I had a beard then. Why, man, you and one of your niggers were With me three or 'four days once, up on the ridge beyond the Burnt Hills— \ .v you remember, the nigger was from San Domingo, and he was forever bragging about the San Domingo peppers, and saying those on the mainland had n't enough strength to make a baby wrinkle his nose, and you found a pepper coming through the swamp, and you tipped me the wink and you handed that pepper to the nigger, and it damned near killed him. Hell ! You musi remember that ! " ''That would have been the Chavica pertusumr said Gafferson. thoughtfully. He seemed to rouse himself to an interest in the story itself with some difficulty. " Yes —I remember it," he admitted, finally. " I should n\ 84 THE MARKFJT-PLACE i ■ .11 have known you thoue-h t '«, ft, about remembering peorie I^. "'"'' '" "'^ ''"" me. I notice thatlhen1„o "o toT !,° "' ^'•"""■= °" I don't remember the men Zt . ?1°" *° '"" ^'■°»'-"'. with the time before oTJ "* ""^ '°"«^^' '^'ks flowers, you 'veToTno rZ ■™" ^'' ""P^^'' "P '" y°«r else-tlla't 's the way o?it •' *". '"" "^^^ ''"^ '"^^"'S Thorpe considered him with a riirr,!„o»- this is the sort of thino- ,1 y""'"="'ng eye. " So rather be doing this eh^^r '""^'- '''^^' ^"^ ' ^ou 'd wood and mah^any ^^uLt or7„ \"' """ P'^^ "" '"S- Gafferson ans;er^d "^uUe^rp y' "'i^tf .^^^ r^'' d' to ever make a oilp t o-^f i j • : " ^ '"^ ^^^d I was a young^t^U ttr lid" "t^m^ "^ '^■'- =n trying to get back, but I was n't m»T '' ^""^ bare living when you were thertanrf."'*^."""'' '""" => even do that much t,T! f *^'^^' ^""^ ^"er that I did n't out what my retfancv w^r' r f°'^ """^ ^^"^ to find jore, but /w^ctTarut m Trd™^ ^T '"^ Amencan gentleman came along onfdav „ R ^ "" at my place, and he saw that I w!s as „e Jr' T / ""'."P make 'em, and he says to me ™ ou '" n """? ^' "^^^ hotel, nor yet a store »„rf ,t'- "° S°°'' '° ™n a cent. What youte born f T' ''°'"' ^°"«^y ^^ a can't afi-ord to do it LrH " '" ^^^ "o""^- You it, but you gXv;^- trar:ot 'iij-r ^"d :r.Tou?bo^„r -^ " ^'-'- <^^or,c-A-cx word'"r„d'l ^arluhht f '"'• '*" ' '^"^ ''- =" "is I 'd like to con to Engt:d aVdT' ":^ ''"' ' *™^'-' coloured Ls that 'S htlnVe :aS:n«:t :'S.;tt ' s I THE MARKET-PLACE 85 named after my „,aster. And what could I ask more '„ brla^ll^^hteV:. ^^'-^ ''''°^^- •' ^'-' '■•- do they have h J''t^i^"'*'""''.'°""'^' P'''^g»=>'ie, florid countenance had taken on a m,ld glow of animation dun'ng his™ t. J It relapsed into lethargy at the advent^of this nTw "It seems to me they eat at all hours," he said " But you want to see his Lordship, " he went oTcousider .ng about noon would be your best time '■ patie„T ■>= ■»«'=h nonchalance a he could summon, " your master is one of my director^ he. and , ^,c:^z^:^z:z^;fi^z bnyanl:[ate''in tr°°'"^^ ""■- "">■ "^ ™y-l"'a 1 offers and I%1,",' T"'"' ''■'' '~° "^ ">^ "K^t thing oners and I shall want to set up no end of c^aMens md greenhouses and all that. I see that I couldn't come to a better man than you for advice. I daresav r 'll Z,M who e arrangement of it in your hands You -d 1 k'e hat' would n't you ? " ^^^ u. hkc mat, '■'■ Wiiatever his l^ordship agrees to," tad gardener re- 86 THE MARKET-PLACE u?ot"o?r p„"f • "^ '""^ '" "- ^'^S'"«. -<» took th J f°1^ ^7"«^ °" •■'" '■'^'' ^"d "«>ved briskly toward lawn. He was conscious of annoyance with this mom hS raIf.c™w„'::^''i*S^ ?f ?"'■'«.''->' -^ giving his place bn/thT.™"'.''.'^"'^'"'^ P"' ^aiTerson in "s r .":r'"Hr ^%-'"'" '^>^^ ■« ? He har/s J" r ' ** ''^ ''^'* '^"^^'^ "''"W medals with The a^atstl LS'™'"'- • "^"^ ™'^^ "-« overwheT^ngl was no 1^ Ir'' '■'J'"'"« " "P' °f ~"^». b"t if thfre was no more than one chance in twentv of if Ti, j oided that he conld not afford the risk ' "^ "'■ He quitted the greenhouse with resolution andd'r,.ot.H h.s steps toward the front of the mansion 1:^ en etd the hall, a remarkably tuneful and resonant chime fiUed h,s ears w,th novel music. He looked and saw tha a wh.te-capped, neatly-clad domestic, standing with her .' g out trr ^f.' "'"^'-P"^' "f *« ^'-i was beat- o;9t;::rorstrdSa::tkrn:hTp-¥^^ rfhaTit ^^^-s^ - - -^ - -P'- bX^^ t'^'^'T'""' "' '^'^^ forth the half-crown which he had been fingering in his pocket, and gave^ tTth, prl as she tumed. " That 's the kind of cTIrt "kf.? i t) THE MARKET-PLACE ^7 he declared, bestowing the patronage of a jovial smile upon her pleased and comely face. " Show me the way to this breakfast that you 've been serenading about." Out in the greenhouse, meanwhile, Gafferson continued to regard blankly the shrivelled, fatty leaves of the plant he had taken up. ' ' Thorpe, ' ' he said aloud, as if address- ing the tabid gloxinia— " Thorpe— yes— I remember his initials— J. S. Thorpe. Now, who 's the man that told me about him ? and what was it he told me ? " : I' ' . I CHAPTER VII T fbtS T '' 'T'^^' ^~» -- -n^ ^gre. present, and after' J fct fe "' ""■^'^ *^ -"^ »- at this discovery it filfejiH," ""'^r''' °f -"^barrassment note how perfec^ti;'hf' t "hil' L^'^lf ' 11''"' '" have imagined himself seated withf, f^ """^"^ "^"^'^ -e_of the., ~er,t^i:t--tdlLnr^ -atural as the tmado "d ri, ^u "' '""P'= '''"'' f'''^'^'' ""1 with a„ air of good-fcHow Wnt v'^ T"' "^'"^y "^te°<^d smiied at the r^ht 1"°^ ,h 7'"^" '"^ '"P^ke ; thev and were glad of I'fs compa.I; ' "''' " '' ""'' "^^'^ Wm', •;eha';i;;tt :»:;;:;r ^^^^^^^^ '^"^'-^ -. »■■<' t'>e meal. His confession at ,hr '"^ P^S'-'^^'* 'hrough and of the sinister ™Zr '^^°"'^^'°f his great hunger, i» his Ioiterinrv™rabo„r,r' 7""" '""■ "^^-'^d ^■•» ««.7thing he said as amul^^g ^'^ """ '^^"^ *<> «gard >>oste^''e:pi:;:n:d irh-r-riT'" f^ -•-'"^ ""'^ <"'• olways at nine. That Z'„„.7 '"'^'"" '""' ^ breakfast -.,e. B„twhe;::;rii'w~:f.=!;^^ 11 81 11 lU ^HE MARKKT-PLACE 89 regularity. We put breakfast back till ten, then as a we":t:„Vt»x.-Lt;::aktr> °^ — ■■'- ,'! T I ^\ "^ «'='" "P "' «»"^ unearthly hour and off V th T '"f ' ?"'"'"'' ''°'" '"^ ««"-™<"». "nd go s on vvitli Ins rod or his p-mm n- \^ a , s"" Inni till luncheon.'' ^ ^^^'' ""^ ^" "^^^^ «^^ M-" \.r^^^" °" ^^'^ P°'"t «f asking so many times " Miss Madden interposed-" is Balder . fo m ' is it aftpr f-Ji^ \n-i • • ,. i^aider a family name, or It alter the Viking m Matthew Arnold's poem ? " It was his father's clinipf. " t ^^ -m 1 swer " I tliint f r^iri ^' Plowden made an- r. . 1 ^ ^''''"^ explanation is the right one -It certainly is n't in either family I can't snv tt ?! attracted nie much-at first, you know '' "' '''' '' saee '< hI/' ?'./''"' '" «Plendidly," said I.adv Cres- f™:rhi ";r " ^^^ "-' "^ ^- '■^^^-"-^ ^^r a^at " I wish the Sandhurst people would have a good lo„t get on at all with that ne^s""^. .^v """° ""T?" "'"' ^^"^'°" ^"<' S^^' P^fflPt- you don'^t-^t'"' '" T" °.' '"' "°^'''' ^^""""^ d^-^. «•« you don t get very clear ideas of its movements The people who make fortunes in England are eve^whiras ;mpor tan to its welfare as those who inherit namrs a.,d ndivdualy I 'm sure they are often much n.ore d eserv mg Every generation sniffs at its m,w,au.v riches but by he ,ie,t they have become merged in the aristt'acy It IS n t a new thing in England at all. It has alwav3 been that way. Two-thirds of the peerage have S start from a wealthy merchant, or .sonfe o[he p 1„ to land V , ,"" J^'^ "" "•'•"y "- "^-k-bo'ie of E7g? lani You should keep that always in mind " Of course-I .see what you mean "-Winnie replied her dark cheek flushing faintly under the tacit ^prlof! had rtrn r '7;"'>-«"" Wrthday, but her ™ice had m It the d«:.le self-repression of a school-girl She spoke with diflident slowness, her ^a.e hJ"li ..„ * bcr plate. " Of course-my grandfather wi^a'lawye'r^ I'll 1.1 1 92 THE MARKET-PLACE I'ore no nart .."'^'l"'"' ^'"' " conversation in which he «.s in Engla,°d ? " "'"'*' '™''' "'^» " '^ w'th '■I 'm not an American, you know," he reminded h^r I only jinow one or two sections ^V *r ""'"'^'* ''^f- those only as a slrauirer v^ i ,. ^"^ country-and '■ Me >■• said Ce fa ..S," r "'^ "* '"^ ''''^■^^"■" -iujava ro?;.am;L;orTom::; L'^ulXrX hears such marvelous tales about them ■ ^ menttTth'ffa:? .""Tm^t '"t"^'^ ''''''"'' "-'O^" '<> ^^ But he 's a wonderful gardener," said Lndy Cressa^re viri;3trt,:i'i:httadtrh^^ "-" ^"^'°™ - ..- laugh drew him :,^::t^;:::zz:^ of hfe among the misfits of adventure Th» i;I- , , dallied over their tea-cups to li:;", ^ hiI''.^he eta™"'? hav„,g them all to hin.self, .„d of holding themt™,° THE MARKET-PLACE 93 suoren^el T"'.'"' ^^ ^'' discourse-these ladies of supremely refined associations and position-seemed to provide an inspiration of its own. He could hear that ca ITrT T- ^'}''''^^'^''^^y "modulating itself to their criti- dP rVn f '. ^^']Snage was producing itself with as much delicacy of selection as if it came out of a book-and yet presemng the savour of quaint, outlandish idiom which his hsteners clearly liked. Upon the instant when Lady Plowden s gathering of skirts, and glance across the table warned hmi that they were to rise, he said deliberately t^ hisThL"'^ '^' '^^" ^'^ '^^^^ ^^^^y^^ ^P'--^e of There were cigar boxes on the fine old oak mantel, out HI the hall, and Winnie indicated them to him with the obvious suggestion that he was expected to smoke. He nrel- . 'T "' ^' ''' '''' ^'g— ^^ere she stood spreading her hands above the blaze ot the logs and Z tVd^?'^""^ ""^^^ '"^^^ "P-^ acquaintance t'\y, ^ u °"^^''- ^'' ^"^^^ ^Snve might not be beautiful, but beyond doubt its lines were ladj'like The same extenuating word applied itself in his mind to her thin and swarthy, though distinguished, features. They bore the stamp of caste, and so did the way she looked at one through her eye-glasses, from under those over-heavy black eyebrows, holding her head a little to one side Though It was easy enough to guess that she had a spirit of her own her gentle, almost anxious, deference to her mother had shown that she had it under admirable control He had read about her in a peerage at his sister's book" shop the previous day. Unfortunately it did not give her age, but that was not so important, after all. She was styled Honourable. She was the daughter ot one Vis- count and the sister of another. Her ^mnrlfnfh.r v..a been an ^arl, and the book had shown ''her to possess a 94 THE MARKET-PLACE '■J bewildering number of relationships among titled folks g^stLt™:g;?rr:^^^^^^^^^ brain as he loaded atTer *' " ^'^''''^ ^°^ '" ^s <.„!' \ '" !'^'^^- ^°"- '"^'"k my brother has odd notions of entertamnig h.s gnests," she remarked to him over Lr shonMer The other ladies had not Joined them. ' .^ rA '" "" "S""''" ^^ protested cordially "r Uot '.'° '^'^^ """ P"' """^^'f °"' i" 'he slightest " Upon consideration he addprl • " t ^. ■, , s^i-ebi. up the idea of shoo«„g t^ day." ^""^ "^^ "^^ ^iven " I thmk not," she ^answered. " The ke-per was ahm,t h,s monung, that is-and he does n't often come unless f^tirslX"""'"'""^^""^- ^-P''----^ tha he had yet to fire his first gun on EngUshtT It s a good many years," he went on, ■• since I had the t me and opportunity to do much at it. I th'nk the la t shooting I did was alligators. Yon hit 'em in the eye lou know. But what kind of a hand I shall make of t'wit'h a b^S g::!"" ''^ '''-' ''-'■ '- ''' ^-^"""^ -"^ " I don't think it 's anything remarkable Plowde,, says „,y brother Balder kills all the birds off e;ery:a"r Balder 's by way of being a crack-shot, you know T. e e are son,e pheasants, though. We saw them flying when we were out this morning. ■ ' * Thorpe wondered if it would be possible to consult her upon n.e question of apparel. Clearly, he ougltto make some difference in his garb, yet the n.ental vision of him s 1 .„ those old Mexican clothes revealed it^^ If nowT ndtculously impossible. He must have been out of Us THE MARKET-PLACE 95 mind to have conceived anything so preposterous as rin- ging himself out. among these polished people, like a cow- puncher down on his luck. ^ f , " I wonder when your brother will expect to start " he began uneasily. " Perhaps I ought to go and get ready. " Ah, here comes his man," remarked the sister Thn J"""!-^"^^""^'. «^°«t^-"^^«nered youngster-whom kather .t'""""""^ u '' ^^'""^ cord-breeches and eather leggings as he descended the stairs-advanced toward hmi and prefaced his message by the invariable utes h\ ".''" "^^^'^'^P ^''' ^^ ^^-'-' - "! utes-and he hopes you '11 be ready, sir," the valet said. w u ^^"5.^°"^" to this gentleman's room," Miss Winme bade him. and with a gesture of comprehensive submission he went away. tinl^f ""^l!" '^J'.^i"^'' ""'"'^ ^^^^^ '^^ ^^^ P^o^Jded a solu- tion for his difficulties impressed Thorpe greatly it would never have occurred to him that Pangbourn was tue answer to the problem of his clothes, yet how obvious It had been to her. These old families did something tTe^:!^ "f '"J'^" ^"^^^ "^^^ ^^--^^ ■' they matrld the art of making these servants an integral part of the machinery of existence. Fancy having a man to do all ,^r.v, K "^•^^°"' '^°'^'' ^^^ >^°"' ^"^ then dress you. into the bargain. Oh, it was all splendid. h,-n,c;i/''"'f ^^-^^ "^^ ''^ ^°"^^ shooting," Thorpe found himself explaining, a few moments later in his bedroom, to the attentive Pangbourn. He decided to throw himl self with frankness upon the domestic's resourceful good- feeling. 'I have n't brought anything for shootiiTg at an. Somehow I got the idea we were going to do rough ndmg instead-and so I fetched along son Jold MexTcan "IT^!"'^'' '^\'' "^^^^ -^ f-el more at home in the >..^ux= .urn anjimng else would. Vou know how fond a 96 # THE MARKET-PLACE man gets of old, loose things like ,h.t „ . shooti„g-i want you to fix „ 1 ' „, ^"" ^''™' "-is Just some breeches'a"°"'-n an- tatiyely fingering the L fl ^- *''° ^'«' been teu- "Pon its p4 as^fi^'td^pror ?o:Ztn '"T "' '^-'' Downstairs in the hall Tht '" '"""^^^■ done, and there was nohJ ""' """•^ ™'«"g '» be ' He lit another aVar Wed „?""'. '° ''^^^ '"■" ~™Pany. leathern one to suft him al M ™?"' ^'P^ "'" ^^ foo-d a and the adjoini,^ 'rseryato ^f t' '''°"' '''^ '""^ more than half an hour ThLt' f ^'"'^'^ '° '"m routine, he felt, did .ot commend tdf°' "' "'■^'<"^^"= ' as did some others. Everybodv el>^ "° "'""'^ '° >"■»> regard it as so wholly a „°t. ? ''""'"■^'■' •''eemed to should do as he Hkel tharh! t h "T'' "'^' P'"""^"' plaint eyen to himself: "^ formulating a com- At last, this noblemari's r-^ut j «»<>«• ■■ His LordshTp wi 1 he d"'""'''^ ""^ ^'^■'■■' °"« «r," he declared-.* fdwiLo'r'"' T^ ^'■°'">' »»'-. iuto the gun-roon., sir.lrd Si!; t?""^'' '" »- Thorpe followed him through ad sta,rcase-the existence of She had™? ""^'' """^ ."to a bare-looking apartmentttttl ''akXX wl^^ f s n THE MARKET-PLACE q- shelves. After the semi-gloom of the h^)} if Riarine-lv liVhff^H ^u^ -^ "' ^^ ^^^ almost glaringly lighted. The windows and another door opened he saw, upon a court connected with the s^aWe yard' Thorpe m turn, and then resumed his occupation Th! were numerous gun cases on the lower she HndT boxes and bags abore ' "^ """"^ mald^jd otth"e? 'XT^'l '■' .'"^ ^^^' ''- ..ance and his .orc'o„ve^:,fL:,^;;tr^li"-t pe^oual out-of-doors disdain for liveried hou ete„ ' The valet, standing behind Thorpe, shrugged his shoni ders and eloquently shook his head to Thorpe" '"'' '" '"'""''''^' '"f" The keeper turned To his intense humiliation, Thorpe could not make out the meaning of the query. •■ Oh, anything 'll do forme ' shot ?'dr ""^ '"'""«• " " '^ y-" -net I ;e sho^-I daresay one gun MI be quite the same as anothir He felt the knowing bright eyes of the keeper takini. wL'TsTr-Tr: - -rr-- " -^^^^^^'^ o«^ t,- ^ lancy, the functionary decided at U^t i5 must be the weapon that was reserved for school X, !:dTh^„^i'rit°ctvitr 1 *" -^^^^^ :tr ?: tZ't -' !- - -■ -^. t aignifi:d^ oiiciite. A o tlie keeper s remark " m,- tj^u r mate with him today sir '' h. . ^'\^^^'^^' ^^^ ^^s nod, ^' ' ^^ ^''^^ on^y a restrained i !i i 98 THE MARKET-PLACE T oL PI T^ ^''^'' "'''^ ""^^^^ ^'°"t^« t<^ wait before Lord Plowden appeared. He came down the stairs then with the brisk, rather iinpatient air of a busy man whose P^ans are embarrassed by the unpunctuality of oThers coat and cap, gloves, scarf round his throat and all-and he behaved as if there was not a minute to lose. He had barely time to shake perfunctorily the hand Thorpe offered mo^nin;?''"" '^ ^^-t-minded "How are^you this door'' h^^ •'^'^'^ "'^'' ^"''"'^ ^^^^^^^ t« «P^" the outer door, bearing his master's gun and a camp-stool, he said reproachfully, " We are very late today. Barnes " Thev went out, and began striding down the avenue of trees at such a pace that the keeper and his following of small boys and dogs who joined them near the road, wle forced into a trot to keep up with it. Thorpe had fancied, somehow, that a day's shooting would afford exceptional opportunities for quiet and h^^ mate talk with his host, but he perceived very soon that this was not to be the case. They walked together for - half a mile, it is true, along a rural bye-road first and then across some fields, but the party was close at their heels and Plowden walked so fast that conversation of any sort' save an occasional remark about the birds and the covers between him and the keeper, was impracticable. The Hon. Balder suddenly turned up in the landscape, leaning against a gate set in a hedgerow, and their course was deflected toward him. but even when they came up to him. the expedition seemed to gain nothing of a social T'Tu . ?' ^'^ ^"'' ^°^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ exchanged, a they halted here to distribute cartridges and hold brief consultation, bore exclusively upon the subject in hand Ihe keeper assumed now an authority which Thorpe THE MARKET-PLACE qq breathing heavily over the unwonted exerci^ ..a u • s.r s, r.s til- f "="it:' Ihorpe said to himself that he HM «r.f i;i \u- thou,, afte^ard, when he hal aL'i^I i' hV^r:"' taken up his station under a clump of trees JfhT I had dropped a blunt injunction about firing „p or down fe^tltd li:*:^ ""^ ^^- -- *- '^e -tir^whth a mtleTom 'tir''" ^ '"''?""^ ™"'"''^ '» ^'™" about a little irom the spot on wh ch he had been n)»„f.j ., caught a ghmpse against the skyline of the dfs.an,^?' ^ P ovvden, comfortably seated on ^he stoo whS 1^ ^^^ that tl^r"^- " ^'-"'^ '° Thorpe at that momj;' htm . f ™"' "'""''' '° ''' ""^ ^o »«ch before „ a grll^Tlf dtptir °" '''^ ''^^' '" ""^ - «- '^'^ This mood vanished utterly a few moments later Th. remote sounds had begun to come to him of toy "shju .«nd ,v.,c.u the laue skirted, and at these he hastened back lOO THE MARKET-PLACE t wh n ^} t'^ ''"' '^'"^ '^ ^^^ ^ &°°d place, and when he heard the rejx-s of guns to right and left of hKm, and nothing came his way, he liked it less than ever ; it had become a matter of oflfended pride with him however, to relieve the keeper of no atom of the responsi^ bihty he had taken upon himself. If Lord Plowden's guest^had no sport, the blame for it should rest upon Lord i lowden s over-arrogant keeper. Then a noise of a different character assailed his ears punctuated as it were^ by distant boyish cries of " mark i "' These cries, and the buzzing sound as of clockwork gone wrong which they accompanied and heralded, became all at once a most urgent affair of his own. He straiued his eyes upon the horizon of the thicket-and, as if by in- stinct, the gun sprang up to adjust its sight to this eager gaze and followed automatically the thundering course of the big bird, and then, t king thought to itself, leaped ahead of it and fired. Thorpe's first pheasant reeled in the air, described a somersault, and fell like a plummet He stirred not a step, but reloaded the barrel with a hand shaking .or joy. From where he stood he could see ''k,-n ''\ 1' t^^^^^«"^d "^ver have been a cleaner kill In the warming glow of his satisfaction in him- self, there kindled a new liking of a different sort for Howden and Balder. He owed to them, at this belated hour of his life, a novel delight of indescrib: i,le ch^nn There came to him, from lUe woods, the Fli.ili ^ ■ ,iic voice of the keeper, admonishing a waywaid dog He was conscious of even a certain tenderness for this keeper -and again the cry of " mark ! " rose, strenuously ad- arc.,-sed to him. /- 1- P-. hour later the wood had been cleared, and innrf si;w f .;e rest of the party assembling by the gate He cna 01 aurry to ;oin them, but when Lord Plowden I t d THE MARKET-PLACE jqi indifferent an air as he could simulate. It pleased liin, ~h"^e ""V'° °'" '""'^ ""™Sht it woKi," covered H„ r^^^™"' ^^ ™y °f *^ ^P°' he had covered His eye took instant stock of the game carried andT ra'bbh '7 d^ ''!--»'''-<' P-- werf eigM b S count ■ " ''""' '^^P^'l ^'""° Wni at the smel^of;,'^''"''!-" "*"'* ^'""''e"' pleasantly. The Zperat^dTh ir*^ '"' "^''' "^ ^'^'"^^ leathers had CO operated to brighten and cheer his mood I heard " Thlrr, • u- ^^ '■'"' °™'''" he said , lowly Ihere are nine birds within sio-hf o.,/i ti, thr..p it. fi,= 1, u , "'" signt, and there are two or ■ GiTd r^ S:7der '"^^ "^^ ""^^^ ^o' -^-" "Magnificent!" was his brother's comment-and Thorpe permuted himself the luxury of a Ion' dra vn beaming sigh of triumph ° ' tiiiltvemht.'^lT'"^ °' '"'^ '"""■P'^ ^^emed really to tint everything that remained of Thorne's vi'>■"P■<'"s of the South Eastern and the Brighton, having piled up additional defenses in the ohape of personal recollections of delav and mismanage ment quite beyond belief, made a oomtined attaT upon the newcomer. He was evidently incapable their « marks implied, of knowing a bad „n„»r"Iw v ."" one. fo suggest that the characterless and inoffensive 103 104 THE MARKET-PLACE ,& I M Chatham-and-Dover. so commonplace in its tame virtues was to be mentioned in the same breath with the darinsrlv inventive and resourceful malefactors whose rendezvous was London Bridge, showed either a weak mind or a cor- rupt heart. Did this man really live on the Dover line at J ..^'J ^^""t^^-iances plainly reflected the doubt But to Thorpe the j . iirney seemed short enough-almost too short. The conversation interested him not at all • If he had ever known the Southern lines apart, they were couM hf "°"; ?' ^^°^^' ^"^ °^ ^^^ -^"d°w, and could have sworn that he thought of nothing but the visit from which he was returning. When he alighted at Cannon Street, however it was to discover that his mind was full of a large, new, carlfully- prepared project. It came to him, ready-made and practi- cally complete, as he stood on the platform, superintending the porter s efforts to find his bags. He turned it fam lianze himself with its details than to add to them He left the cab to wait for him at the mouth of a little alley which delves its way into Old Broad Street through towering walls of commercial buildings, old and new " small, hudd ed rooms, dry and dirty with age, which had a doorway of its own in a corner of the court-and Thorpe pushed on to his room at the end like one who is assured ot both his way and his welcome. The broker was standing beside a desk, dictating a let- ter to a clerk who sat at it, and with only a nod to Thorpe he proceeded to finish this task. He looked more than once at h,s visitor as he did so. in a preoccupied, imper- sonal way To the other's notio.i. he seemed the ^ersonl fication of business-without an ounce of distracting superfluous flesh upon his wiry, tough little frame, with- THE MARKET-PLACE ,05 °"LmltZ "' '"""''"'^'y P^'ite-'ess, or humour, or sens,b I,ty of any sort. He was the machine perfected and fined down to absolute essentials. He conid underhand f joke ,f ,t was useful to him to do so. He could dri^k .„h even smoke cigarettes, with a natural air if these e'e^efset Thorpe did not conceive him doing anything for the mere hun,a„ reason that he liked to do it. There was morV i=^t a tou^h of what the rustic calls " ginger " in his hair a^d closely.cropped, pointed beard, and he had the comole ZTLTo^ ■*"■• "i-^—tably direct C0.2; Wue Zf " ^7f :'*" ^'"^ '" " -""^^ '^■•°™ than ht^nne^p^red'the t^^rT'"''""'' ^"'=^' ='"'' ness. conspicuous white- He turned as the clerk left the room, and let his serious ' weiP^^ "^ "^^^"^ ^^ ^ ^^^--^ H- ir^: Well > he asked, impassively. turl^^-Vr T 1 ir '^'"-°f-="'-''0"r ? • • asked Thorpe in turn. I want a talk with you " For answer, Semple left the room. Returning after a minute or two, he remarked, "Go ahead till we Ve w. h he light inconsequence of a bird on a twig Thome unbuttoned his overcoat, laid aside his hat, td IZ ■■ I -ve worked out the whole scheme," he began as if unroduciiig the product of many sleepless nig^'^ogiti! -go on th. r ^T^ '° ''T ^"«^''""' """o^t immediately thfc::;tht„t """""' "■' '"^^ "'^°"*-^ •- -« -» " You see the idea, don't you ? " Thorpe demanded. io6 THE MARKET-PLACE he'^aid''™''^'^ twitched his shoulders slightly. " Go on," "But the idea is everything," protested the other. We ve been thinking of beginning the campaign straight away-but the true game now is to ^feTw- silent as the grave. I go away now, d' ye see ? Nothing particular ,s aid about it, of course, but in a month of two somebody notices that I 'm not about, and he ha^ pens to mention it to somebody else-and so there gets To be the impression that things have n't gone well with me !J ""' ■ -r?" *" '=""" P'^"' I '" "» the clerks at my office go. The Secretary "ll come round every once^n a while to get letters, of course, and perhaps he '11 keep a boy in the front office for show, but practically the place '11 be shut up. That '11 help out the general im! pression that I Ve gone to pieces. Now d' ye see > ' It -s the Special Settlement you 're thinking of " commented Semple. ^ '■ Of course The fellows that we 're going to squeeze won d move heaven and hell to prevent our getting that Settlement, if they got wind of what was goiifg on The ou.y weak point in our game is just there. Absolutely ever5,thing hangs on the Settlement being granted Na urally. tnen, onr play is to concentrate everything o. getting It granted. We don't want to raise the remotest shadow of a suspicion of what we 're up to, till after we ■ re safe past that rock. So we go on in the way to attract the least possible attention. You or your jobber makes the ordinary application for a Special Settlement, with your Z ;'I"""'' ""^ ^ °" ■ """ ^ so abroad quietly, and «hn , p'^r'^"'' "' ■*"' "P' "'"' "°^'>^y ""^kes a peep about Rubber Consols-and the thing works itself. You do see it, don't you ? " " I see well euough the things that are to be seen," re- THE MARKET-PLACE 107 Of," re- plied Semple, with a certain brevity of manner < ' There was .1 sermon of mv fifliPt-'c fi^of t / ^ for its text ' wl ^y,^"" ^ ^^^^ I remember, and it had hufnl ll U °°^ "°^ '-^ ^^^ t^^"gs which are seen but at the thmgs which are not seen ' '' ' " Jemr-Tf -h"? ''^"^ ''' " "^°^"^"^' "«^^^d ^'« head. " tW '! T, f T Z"^' ^""^^"^ ^"^ "^^^^ f^^^^rd to the desk on he tat f "' ''"' '°^- ^ "^"^ ^° «P^--d mv cads on the table for you. I know the sum you 've laid " ote":aid"ba:rf "' ''''' '''''■ ^^ '^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ - we '11 put hat to '°!!' "' " '^P^^^^^ transaction, and we n put that to one side. Now then, leaving that out of consideration, what do you think you ^ught to have on of he winnings, when we pull the thing off ? Mind r m not thinking of your 2,000 vendor's shares—-^ ' r.. :;c 'r """^ thinking much of them, either " inter- posed Semple, .^th a kind of dry significance. ' '"' Oh they 'U be all right." Thorpe affirmed He The broker put out his under-lip. '< You will finM uuuLhervea , but it s ui my nature I 'm f,,ii ^r fi, for me That 's the way I •„, built. Why "-he ha 5h to cons,der the advisability of discIosi„/„hat he h.d Drom^se'^ ♦■" ''-^ <* ▼ - ' ■^•_ - " y^^ai ue naa .-- - -. -.-^u-iui i^ora liowden, and decided against it io8 THE MARKET-PLACE bi:;:w„^;r:^rer%,t" n7:i*^ r°'^ r-" "^^^ frir fi.^ 1- /. °"^ ^"'"8^ alone— the monev 1 could at the Crown Jewels in the Tower I Ve won «r r^'i-r' "■^" ""^^-'f yo" dou't mind the oTes" .%~abr;^°"''^'''''" '"'■^- --hreadyZ^ trult'^lrf "^ 'T' ^'""2°" ''"<' Aberdeen folk who tbev ..\% """"' ^°' "'"'"•" «>^ '"•*er explained. "If thousand ,w1h /! """^ P'^"*^"^ '° '"ke thirty mind n\i^ ? of twenty-if it presents itself to your effect 0° cou" ™''- ^°" ""' ^'^ ^ ^ '-- to ^that ' ■ Of course, ' ■ assented Thorpe. " Write it now if you and H- . P"*""^ ""'' '^''^'^ '■""-■•d. closer to tl; desk «" "hTstid, iiiruV": I ;;,rak' v^-' '° '° '^ ihirjinrr ■ "-^ ^ '■■ - '- t■:.^e\^™:t; thousand m cash „ow-a personal advance. I shall need iVudi'";ortrkt^r e%'°"""™'^ ^-^ >— materfah Je eh ? " °" "'""'"^ ''^'''"•^ *"'g^ ' ' The Special Settlement, in the natural order of events would come shortly after the Christmas holida," '^1 IS nearly three months. Then th? w„rt „- /, ■ - ."■ghtly proH.3 win begin-rd it isTr yl To s'fy how long you allow that to go on " ^ ^ remifde/ht' ""' '"° *°""'"' ^'"''^ "^ ■" ^'-rpe kickine'iti"^'/',"''' *'"' '" ""'^ ™y'" ^^" Sample, kicking his small legs nonchalantly. " I will buv Ln vendor s shares, you observe-and then I will take your hing have lie money at it than 've won- the ques- ly money blk who id. "If 1 be very we thirty ■ to your to that V, if 3'ou he desk, to do is mise for ave two all need nonths. things events, That g lort- ly how rhorpe emple, y two n, not i your THE MARKET-PLACE jq^ acknowledgment that you hold them for m« ,■ . . a eiven dafp t« *u \ °^ ^^ ^" trust up to Sample s:;^!^ f r hi/^^^ t rf "^ 7"="' I suppose you know the Continent byTeati ' ' '""'• On the contrary, very little indeed I >,-» i,,^ u ■ ness m Frankfort once and i„ p„„ J ^ ''"'"• Paris twice. That is^l'l " R<>««--dam once, and in " Oh, if you call it buyincr " said Thr..^ j , day wUh plowde, v„, ?' "'"f "« ^^""•''''y ^"^ Sun- Board." "°™''""-y°" know, the Lord Plowden on my I know of him "er— ^- n •• • " " '^""^ '^^•^^' observed the Scotchman. ill no THE MARKET-PLACE 'r^.T- '"' * P'^« «•»' ^^ a^ks people dovra to, then » That IS n't the usual form with guinea-pigs " ' Ah, but, he is n't the guinea-pig variety at all " Thorpe asserted, warmly. •■ He 's really a spLfdid ll low-w,th his little oddities, like the rest of us of course" but a decent chap all through. Place? IshoudXnk he /«rf got a place ! It 's one of the swellest old country houses you ever saw-older than hell, you know-and tl kept up as if they had fifty thousand a year Do "u happen to know what his real income is supposed to be "' ■ Semple shook his head. He had taken l,i, W ,, was smoothing it deftly with the pahn of his hand ' '"' i asked, Thorpe went on, " because he had so much to say al»ut his poverty. To hear him talk, you 'd think the ba,hffs were sitting on his doorstep. That does i' t prevent h,s having fast horses, and servants all over the P ace, and about the best shooting I Ve seen in theTouth form ^ rt- , f '"f ™""' "^^^ ''■ ' "- i" "o-lertl form. God ! how I knocked the pheasants ! " gesture. I must go now," said Semple, briskly and led the way out to another room. He ha ted here and d^nnssed h.s caller with the brief injunction, "Don't go away without seeing me." ^^uu i go of ^hr'rV^ T'"^""'- »"d 'he least-considered grades of the C.ty s slaves were in the streets on the quest for cheap luncheons. Thorpe noted the ma.mer in which some of them studied the large bill of fare pLIrded beside a restaurant door; the spectacle promp ed Wm pX°"H'eld''b'^ ''^ '"' ™'"^ rJ.uJ,tZ pocket He had been as anxious about pence as the hungnes^ o tho.se poor devils, only a week before. And now ! He thru.st up the door in the roof of the cab »„H bade the driver stop at his bank. Thence X^^me o, then? at all," ;ndid fel- 'f course, lid think country- -and it 's Do you to be?" lat, and 3o much d think loes n't >ver the 2 South nderful leaning y, and re, and in't go grades est for which i^arded. i him n his IS the And ), and some THE MARKET-PLACE ,„ '0 a telegraph stau'ln L^ ^°"'^°" "''■^^'^y- "^ drove They werf Ml&a Tn\e™s T'^'"', '"" "^^^^S"- vick at his residence-h. »1 °"'=.^°"g'« General Ker- Hanover SatTZ ? 1 '""^^'''S" ^»">ewhere ■„ the at his crub'''"B h "Ci'-f;;^ ixr'r '°°r '"- ■"■■■ two o'clock. ^ " '"'"''' ^' ">« Savoy at .i.e''c:rarhis"hiT' '° '""'■ "°"- '^'">^^ '•-"--d Street, and s^nl^ZT. ''Tt''"'""'' ''""^ "' Graven letters for h n o„ the hn J"" T""- ^"^^^ ''^'^ "» sauntered up to the Str ,, d I" l^' ''""™y> ^"'^ "e turned present V „t„ ' i "^^ '''' '■"'^^ "f '■^bit, he tUe anciLtTolLC oVh^^:^:' '"' ''"'''' "''"''^ noomS: thfbLs: rra"'""/ "■^ ^"""'' -'-« low old brick front i2 > """^ '"°'^^'' '^'^^ "^ 'he computed their a?e hv n,. ^' , ^'^ *™ '"'S'« have ent Planets" AlhoughU'^rr:' systems of differ- rry^rf thtsit^f H?^^^^^^ very sdoT Thl i ^ \ -'^'°°^ ^^^^ ^^^« «Pe"t on that very spot. The lad under observnf inn i,.^ i • V sullen face; its expression c„ n":'""" J °A^ '°""^"' ""d — 1„ ..^,1 ixEvc uccn mote de- 112 THE MARKET-PLACE void of intellectual su^gestioim if li*» 1,0^ k The thought struck him that very lil , Iv „t til;! 7 ?• ; doorway, two generations back a poor o„t » t^ T""^ young law-student named Plowden Ct Xr^d over pages of books he could not dream of buying "pef haps even, he had ventured inside, and defefentilnv picked acquaintance with the Thorpe of the per od and got book,sh advice and friendly couLel for no,h™g' t A customer came out of the shop, and Thorpe went in hsU III' THE MARKET-PLACE "3 He an- . ^ ^ope you 're the bener for ,f^ " .1, ^ng to him, after a pause We^o' f ^ ^^^^^ked, turn- " Oh, immenselv ' he^ffl ^^°^^«"^^^» Plain face " You should have seen the 1;/'^' ^"'"^^ J^^^^^nty. ' Mr. Thorpe ' here and ' Mr ^[.f' ^'f '' ^^- ^^ was place. Udies of title i,-i„d ^^u '^^''' ^^^ °^^^ the fast two days runn n' An. ''""iT" '" "^^^^^^ ^^ ^reak- her phrase iTaf ; "i's^LT/'.''''^; " "^ =^'''' ''^opting turned forty, and I fee7reVb„v ' 'f™^",'- " ' '"^ J"'^ ' r.erage • there, the other d.7' I T '°*'"» « «>^t sixteen years younger thlth^T^fr^"" '""'^' ^ '■» when they n^ade him a pe , Wh v h"'!'"'""'^^" "- imo the House of Commons!,„H. ^^ ''"' "'* ^^^ S*^' " You seem to haveXZ^'^i ' wasseven-and-forty .■ she commented. ""^^^ '^'"''>' "^ 'he brain, ■ ■ I might have worse thino-e v , how nice it all is. The nottef urrP :%"" '''"■ ^"■ made me feel as if I was attL P'°wden_why she hers. And so simple Z naturalTV^' " "^P''^" "' and listened to me and si f-i, ®'" '"'"^'' "' me, iust as anybody might We ion?''vonT'°tT-"''^' When you know her." ^Uust love her, I^ouisa laughed in his face " n^«.. u . -Xet;:!--^^^^^^^ ■oyancy !f L ^St . wr"f/'"P='''-« with the -■" protested. •• w^at °""'' ^™ "'"'""" buoyar her, Huaseuse you 're thinking 114 THE MARKET-PLACE of! Do you suppose I 'm going to allow you to mess about here with second-hand almanacs, and a sign in your window of ' threepence in the shilling discount for cash,' while I 'm a millionaire ? It 's too foolish, I^ou. You annoy me by supposing such a thing ! ' ' " There 's no good talking about it at all," she ob- served, after a little pause. " It has n't come off yet, for one thing. And as I said the other night, if you want to do things for the children, that 's another matter. They 're of an age when they can learn whatever any- body chooses to teach them. ' ' ' ' Where are they now ? " he asked. Upon the instant another plan began to unfold itself in the background of his mind. "They 're both at Cheltenham, though they 're at different places, of course. I was recommended to send Julia there — one of our old customers is a Governor, or whatever it 's called — and he got special terms for her. She was rather old, you know, to go to school, but he arranged it very nicely for her — and there is such a good boys' college there, it seemed the wisest thing to send Alfred too. Julia is to finish at Christmas-time — and what I 'm going to do with her afterward is more than I know." " Is she pretty ? " the uncle of Julia enquired. " She 's very nice," the mother answered, w'th vague extenuation in her tone. "I ■■ n't know about her looks — she varies so much. Sometimes I think she 's pretty — and then again I can't think it. She 's got good features, and she holds herself well, and she 's very much the lady — rather too much, I think, sometimes — but it all depends upon what you call pretty. She 's not tall, you know. She takes after her father's family. The Dabneys are all little people." I THE MARKET-PLACE „ He wants to be an artist ' " Th^r^ ^^ vveu, It s no good-even as an idea " h^ . i^ ^ cither p.s: ^eratr.? *rf > °'"^"'' ^^"^'^^ ^- medicine is-and if you have t'" f'' ™"fi<^^"<=« '^ck- of the wrist, you -re not iu "r P V"'' '"^ "S"" '^^t his merits. There k w! ' ^'" ''" ^'^•'^' ^^nds on It speaks for t ," TheT^s^o^f '' ''' °^"" "^-^ " enough to tell whether it >! . deception-it's easy turesare good, pe'; e buy ,hem K^h'^'; i' '"'^ ?- don't buy them. Of course T^ I ^^ '^ '""'' P"°P'« financially speaking whether h s nW "'"'"■ '° A'^^' But probably he 'd »"« It ' n r'^'. "^'' '"' "''" °'' "»'• of it. "^ " ^"^^ " "P' 'f lie did n't make a hit shlJd'r'anythlng ^'llTow "J "^'°^ "^'^ «»=" »« would be theIrm;%ut7wZd n-T/"' '""•■ """"P^' on him against his wi"l Tt A \ .f ^*" "'^ ''''^<='"« " that, myself, with fathe ! TtrlT" T"^'' ""^ '' yes, and perhaps argue wi h h '^ tfflt' ^ y°"n&ster. making a jack of himself-b,,f T ' ,1 ""'"«''* ''^ 'as Alfred thinks he wanTs to h» ™° "'' '"'^'^'^- " Wn> go ahead. It can bl „ /" "' '" '^"'"'^ """^ 'e' th- mo--- •!,• . '^''" °e made a eentlpm^nl" tr-i- j ma.n rhmg js that he .should be a g;„tTeman/' "^ d.' i ' fl ii6 THE MARKET-PLACE Louisa had listened to this discourse with apathetic patience. " If you don't mind, I don't know that I do," she said when it was finished. " Perhaps he would n't have made a good doctor ; he 's got a very quick temper. He reminds me of father — oh, ever so much more than you do. He contradicts everything everybody says. He quite knows it all." " But he 's a good fellow, is n't he ? " urged Thorpe. " I mean, he 's got his likable points ? I 'm going to be able to get along with him ? ' ' " I did n't get along with him very well," the mother admitted, reluctantly, " but I daresay with a man it would be different. You see, his father was ill all those four years, and Alfred hated the shop as bad as you did, and perhaps in my woxry I blamed him more than was fair. I want to be fair to him, you know." " But is he a gentleman ? That puts it in a word," Thorpe insisted. " Oh, mercy yes," Louisa made ready answer. " My only fear is— whether you won't find him too much of a gentleman." Thorpe knitted his brows. " I only hope we 're talk- ing about the same thing," he said, in a doubtful tone. Before she could speak, he lifted his hand. " Never mind — I can see for myself in ten minutes more than you could tell me in a lifetime. I 've got a plan. I 'm going on the Continent in a few days' time, to stay for three or four months. I 've got nothing special to do— just to travel about and see things and kill time — I shall probably go to Italy and Switzerland and Paris and the Rhine and all sorts of places — and it occurred to me that I 'd take the two youngsters with me. I could get acquainted with them, that way, and^ they 'd be company for me. I 've been lonesouic su luu b> :». u r__i It WUUiU ICCi j^uod tu buVc oumc apathetic at I do," vould n't : temper, ore than lys. He Thorpe, ing to be e mother it would lose four did, and was fair. I word," r. " My luch of a 're talk- ful tone, ver mind ou could going on e or four to travel Ay go to I and all take the ted with 2. I 've ivc some I^HE MARKET-PLACE jj- into sl-,,,J,lZdZTJ' T?':'""^. -<^--'- laugh, ■ ■ Whaf on r^rT r'ff ''^'^ " "'* ="' ^^rupt B -"Hi, to quit at Christmas in anv mc,^ wt ... tracks tne. at ChXr™ >'""'"^ ^"""'^ '" ^" °™ I oufht to s^e soil , g r/h'r'wf f ""r^'"' ""^ han. 1W. y^ "" luminous afterthought • " Per a"t- oegan, I don't know thnt T nnrvi,.- ♦ t,- ' "ess knows, I don't wa: fo La.M t"^'C T' nee yo,. sent that fonr hundred pounds t a ?t seen e" list «e' To :r Zdtw"" •"' ""• '''"^^- •- -"■' .p .Sr" "" " " ■"■' "■*-•* >™ -« >.w R™.L,H^ ""in.,. I„ „i .„ 1,1. .^,^i,^j^ ir8 THE MARKET-PLACE and spread it on the desk. " I will give you back that thirty," he said, as he wrote, " and here 's a hundred to get the youngsters ready. You won't waste any time, will you ? and if you want more tell me." A customer had entered the shop, and Thorpe made it the occasion for leaving. His sister, looking after her brother with the cheque in her hand, was conscious of a thought which seemed to spell itself out in visible letters before her mental vision. "Even now I don't believe in him," the impalpable legend ran. CHAPTER IX G^^anlr^^ ""^f '''^'^ ^^ "5- "^Wt a punctual man ro^ '"^ ed, in the neighbourhood of the luncheon room when hp ort-i'trr^^ r^ • ■, ■, iuncneon- give privacy to their conversation. sharn^ .' "°=\ '""•'•<"' forehead, bushing brows and w^rTtt -f "'S"" ■"■"•"■•mly distributed, one .saWTftet tache were very white indeed. It was a thin lin.^ worn face withal wh.vi, • ' "^^' ^^^^- J xuc ueneral s over-prominent hVht hii,*» eye.s upon occasion n.arred this effect' however bv Inl!! o^ « uuzu, narsa character, which seemed to disclose'un- X19 120 The market-place fipT'9'1 mm pleasant depths below the correct surface. His manner with the waiters was abrupt and sharp, but undoubtedly they served him very well— much better, in truth, than Thorpe had ever seen them serve anybody before. Thorpe observed his guest a good deal during the repast, and formed numerous conclusions about him. He ate with palpable relish of every dish, and he emptied his glass as promptly as his host could fill it. There was hardly a word of explanation as to the purpose of their meeting, until the coffet, was brought, and they pushed back their chairs, crossed their legs, and lighted cigars. " I was lucky to catch you with my wire, at such short notice," Thorpe said then. " I sent two, you know— to your chambers and your club. Which of them found you ? ' ' •' Chambers," said the General. " I rarely dress till luncheon time. I read in bed. There 's really nothing else to do. Idleness is the curse of my life." " I 've been wondering if you 'd like a little occupation —of a well-paid sort," said Thorpe slowly. He realized that it was high time to invent some pretext for his hur- ried summons of the General. " My dear sir," responded the other, " I should like anything that had money in it. And I should very much like occupation, too— if it were, of course, something that was — was suitable to me." " Yes," said Thorpe, meditatively. " I 've something in my mind— not at all definite yet— in fact, I don't think I can even outline it to you yet. But I 'm sure it will suit you— that is, if I decide to go on with it— and there ought to be seven or eight hundred a year for you in it— for life, mind you." The General's gaze, fastened strenuously upon Thorpe, ,1. THE MARKET-PLACE j^j shook a little " Vi-io*. mi dared. with"L,i„r ' W atT^LT ''''\ "?"'" "^ ''- let the sentence enfitselfwth a 3 „nir f° '"■■ ""-''« •■ I thought .0." co„,„e™ d h?o"her ? ifr'"", , spoon in his cup • • i3,,f t „,„, , "'■""• '"""'S witli the I -m interested in vou lirr ''°" '° "' °P^" "'" -"e- All that I -ve saM T Vr V ?"' '° "^^ °f "=* "> you. curious to ...: w'etryt ," 'tlar '°" ^"' '^'■»'' ^ '■" your circumstances. 1 1 ^rfeht i^" """■ ''" "^ ^''™' that ,ou ,e-that .ou 'r^^XUrilTxeJ ^"''^°-' bra?d;"^rL^rst::;:r ir-rt ""■^'- °^ liqueur. " Fixed ".. ? ^ '° ='''^°'''' "»e spirit of the Ws tone. •' I "^ „' ."; "■Tf"'^"- '^i"' ^ P^'evish snap iu God, sir- Th^Z '^^"'= =""'^5 you call it. Good they'do abolt 7heir oTX" "'f '•^™""='' -" - 'h- breeding and posrtL:'!^^"^,^^- tT.h'""^ ^"'^ on me like-like cuckoos " Hk „ ?"T ""''' "'""l their passionless veil for ,„ ; ^V f' ''"'S'"« «yes lifted "Uh the predatoj;*;;^;:,— ,1 r''"'^' '"' '''''' »et'.;rtt::sr-^ .:rd'tutr.^r.tt «"™"-ri::! family matters," he sa™ •^V"""'"' "■ ' """='' "P™ know, in order to help you iVv ^"' °' "'"^' ^ ""'»* are n't you, GeneralT'' '™ ^°" '^" ^ """"'^n Jn'tMy"' " Ife KerviTT"" ^'■^"■=^' ^'■°* "- "-d i"-^™-aLherda,ghter „'r '" "''/ """ '*'-°»- also, apparently a n „ „f "^",''"'='"<'f Property-and tience." Hepa,;scd ' '''"''"^'■'"'^ ^■•ednlit. and pa- divide hin, be ween Z^T^r'TT' '''''■ " ^"'^ t„.n.^.. .„ , . .' "'^'"' "= said then, from oi.,.-'-J .ud x-uund you-/ made the matciri" He^;;: •'J'L 122 THE MARKET-PLACE intrrd? fj '"'"' //ound-and /brought him home and introduced hnn-and I have n't so much as an Italian postage-stamp to show for it. But what interest can ou possibly take in all this ? " The unamiable glance of Ws eyes was on the instant surcharged with suspicion How many daughters have you ? ' ' Thorpe ventured the enquiry with inward doubts as to its sagacity ^ .Tu u ^"swered the General, brieflv. It was evi- dent that he was also busy thinking ' Sund'av'!^ TlT""^ ""-TT '^ '^"^^ ^" '^' ^^^^^^^ ^-er tounaay, Thorpe decided to explain The old soldier's eyes asked many questions in the moment of silence. " Which one-Edith^-trt is lady Cressage ? " he enanirpH " r»f • ' ^ ^ been her." ^"^^^^^^- O^ course-it would have upln me'-'he't- " f' "''^ ' ^^^"^"^^^^^ -P^-on upon me, he observed, watching the father with intent- ness as he let the slow words fall. ' • Well she might. ' ' the other replied, simply. • ' She 's supposed to be the most beautiful woman in England '' Well-I guess she is." Thorpe assented, while the two men eyed each other. ask ^'t^' '^'"^ "'T^ unmarried ? " it occurred to him to Stacker.' '°"' '""'''°" '^'''^'^^ ''' perfunctory ieplied~^'%'"''~'^' 'r^"° importance." the father nnfn K . ^°'' '" ^°' ''"'^"^' ^"^ ^^^ that-she 's ZJ f ^^; ^°" ^^»°w-she lives with an old lady in Scotland The oldest daughter-Blanche-she has some good looks of her own, but she 's a cat. And so you met Edith : May I ask where it was ? " kno^" ^'^^'"^ House-Lord Plowden's place, you The General's surprise at the announcement was un- THE MARKET-PLACE ,^. doubted. " At Plowden's I " T, member that i was piowdL ^°" '."°'i"^'»°d- You re: don't you > uZr^ V^^° 'ntroduced yon to me Boar/ Wen/U „"^ °„tt^-V.ve ^°" f'/" '"^ suppose that he did tint i„ fV ,™ ^^^" '^^'^ "^ to DM you „„dersta:'d luL:? :!f;^ t° ^'^^ >°" daughter. He spoL";::i:a'mlch"d:HrT'" ^'""^^ "-General. words. .. He may fave thoJr> "°"' "^'^""'"^ ^" '"^ may not have known how mSf™ ™"''' "''''' "" • ^-^ her. " "wn now httle my poor affairs concerned " Well, then," pursued Thn™. had an object in pleasinl her r'^.; "^^"T"*""^"'^' " ''« did he want to marry hfr," °" "^ "'^ question- com.Sirpo::r '«:? ""-"^^^ "-^ ^-""-'^ — semblance of as,,! b^t rf,'" '"•' '"^^"^ "^^'^ '« «>« coldly vigilant ' """ '''"' ^^^^ ^b°ve remained " Well— I guess that's so fnn •■I'l,, made a fleeting mental note It fh?""""'''^- «^ about the General which moe fed in f T '^"■"^""'■g . more like an American than ev" ^'« ° ""f """ '^"^ affected that way ? • • ^"' """* *' specially ''I think," said Kervick, judiciallv " r ►. • , • understood that if he had hJZT I """'' " *'»« wife, he would have wi hed t„ ?- ^ """'^ ' "^""""^ "Do t wisnea to marry her " diffident hlw°r:l,T-;°^P« "^^g^"" again, with a kind „f " """" °° ^"'""appen to have formed an I i ! 'f\ 124 THE MARKET-PLACE idea— supposing that had been the case— would she have accepted him ? " " Ah, there you have me," replied the other. " Who can tell what women will accept, and what they will refuse ? My daughter refused I.ord I.ingfield-and he IS an Under-Secretary, and will be Earl Chobham, and a Cabinet Minister, and a rich man. After that, what are you to say ? ' ' "You speak of her as penniless," Thorpe remarked, with a casual air. "Six hundred a year," the father answered. "We could have rubbed along after a fashion on it, if she had had any notions at all of taking my advice. I 'm a man of the world, and I could have managed her affairs for her to her advantage, but she insisted upon going off by her- self. She showed not the slightest consideration for me —but then I am accustomed to that." _ Thorpe smiled reflectively, and the old gentleman read in this an encouragement to expand his grievances. " In my position," he continued, helping himself to still another tiny glass, " I naturally say very little. It is not my form to make complaints and advertise my misfortunes I daresay it 's a fault. I know it kept me back in India —while ever so many whipper-snappers were promoted over my head— because I was of the proud and silent sort. It was a mistake, but it was my nature. I might have put by a comfortable provision for my old age, in those days, if I had been willing to push my claims, and worry the Staff into giving me what was my due. But that I ' declined to do— and when I was retired, there was nothing for me but the ration of bread and salt which they serve out to the old soldier who has been too modest. I served my Queen, sir, for forty years-and I should be ashamed to tell you the allowance she makes me in my old age. '^■TE MARKET-PLACE ^^S That 's enouo-h said ^h ? %? Majesty's soldiers, about my famHy alt 1 1 "^ //"" '^»"°- '"^- ■' And comer, eh ? But to ' ' " "°'. "l^'^ '» '^Ik to the first Haved badly, damned badly 2 " '^^^"'"^-«^^-" '^ be- law.^'Se trfari'SiL''^'"' ^' "^^ ^°^' "^ ^~-- most beautiftl p?3 t ,as'a"r,°'"" '^^^'""^=' ^"'^ than he knows what' to do lithTf'-f"" ™°^^ """"^^ not mj son-i„.law. I could d™ wi7h ? ? ''""' "■'' ^^ '^ that does n't enter inf„ T "'"'^ ^''y "dl-but the wor„-o.,t old soldiersSrb TT''"''"'^- ^° ' '^' That 's the sDirit of „!, , .''°°'-''"^^= <>« 'he kerb ! Edith-does X'rihTb::;^;: 0, t1 r '^"'^^^ —I secured for li^-r tT.« . ^i-oiues ot me ? I^jsten to me She would ^ttCnZLZT£::rr ■" ^"^"•"'■• husband had not plaved t W r '^'f °"'^'"-y today if her do..ednr KrhTdt:^:r:'re^'rr ^4^ -and, !s nnVht bfern' cted T "" °"- ^-'"«-»aster The title would have^"; '! ', '"'^ ""^'^ ^°'^ ""«>«-m 'I ill I ! -:!!! 128 THE MARKET-PLACE less I did with my money the things that I wanted to do and got the things with it that I wanted to get. What- ever takes my fancy, that 's what I '11 do." He paused for a moment, mentally to scrutinize a brand- new project which seemed, by some surreptitious agency to have already taken his fancy. It was a curious pro- jec ; there were attractive things about it, and objections to It suggested themselves as well. " I may decide," he began speaking again, still revolv- ing this hypothetical scheme in his thoughts-" I mav want to-well, here 's what occurs to me as an off-chance I take an interest in your daughter, d' ye see ? and it seems a low-down sort of thing to me that she should be so poor Well, then-I might say to you, here 's two thousand a year, say, made over to you in your name, on the understanding that you turn over half of it say to her. She could take it from you, of course, as her father You could say you made it out of the Company Of course it might happen, later on, that I might like to have a gentle hint dropped to her, d' ye see, as to where it really came from. Mind, I don't say this is what is going to be done. It merely occurred to me. " After waiting for a moment for some comment he added a second thought : "You 'd have to set about making friends with her, you know. In any case, you 'd better begin at that at once." The General remained burici in reflection. He lighted a cigarette, and poured out for himself still another />e^t^ verre. His pursed lips and knitted brows were eloquent of intense mental activity. " Well, do you see any objections to it ? " demanded Thorpe, at last. '' I do not quite see the reasons for it," answered the other, slowly. " What would you gain by it ? " THE MARKET-PLACE " How do you mean-gain ? " n„f • . '^^ peremptory intolerance of tone' '° '^^ °'^""' ^^^h gestr Tt:tnr" ^" ^ .uick little nothing," he said. '' I see 'ht t ' f " something for she would gain, but I confesi I 1'?"^^ ^'^^' ^""^ ^^'^^ you would get out of it ° ^ ''^ ^^^^ advantage No-o, I daresay you don'f " sneering serenity. "But what rf„ .f" '^^°'P'- "'«' -»jtta..o„3eew..;ro::f^^^^^^^^^ It surely is n't necessary .«, began, cautiously pickinHllT"^ gentlemen "-he --h that 's unp^ast"^ ;t f''^"^--'' '^ ^^- ^-te so .No — you 're »"irriif t ^'j Thorpe decL.ed, wUh SDontl/ '' °"'° '° ''^ =° """gh," instant, howeve;, h pe^ rr'"""-- ^Pon tie n..ght be taken of hfs softnei"'',f ^"P^ "•^' ^<'™«^g« man," he went „n, with a S.n- ° ^ P^in-spoken ■nus. take nae as ikeyC"t 2f, T'' " ^•^'' ?<=»?>- stance, that I intended to be of „ ^^"' '^^^^ '" =">>- that ought to interest you ■• "'^ '° ^""-^-d that whaff :r -Xt'"h?^'^'^ ' '"^ P'^- " And "was that I thought I Vwr""??''"* deferentially, yo«- But that did not seCto w °^ ''"'"« °f service to " How-service > " Tho^ ° """==' -™" at al!." sentedtoask. ' ^' "P°" "consideration, con- I know mxj- /t^,.^i.j. , -. -...,u.cr 50 n:uch better than you do, " 130 THE MARKET-PLACE ii? ; ^! it 'h If! J "n^blnd at all, or she wonid be free ,o ™ """ ''°"" "«^« marry pauper Who canght her ft^ey" rl^'"' h-d.o,ne yonng ^^e her. Yon wonId be ^inpl'':' ?"" ^-^ Pa«icnlarlf ftllow, beside losing her for ^ e "dowmg some needv If you 'll leave it to me i /" IZ"""' °' ^' '''"'"w rne^ that-better for all of us " ""' ' ""'^'' '^^"erway than -'• "; • I - :.?r;;:"ir-^ ^^^ ^«-' -t. Yes-Isee." "^^"' ^^e remarked at last f^:^ ^trrtt':;/"^"''^' --^ « ,o„g J'e olfered a diversion, in the for „?"''• ^'■«' fi»a'Iy hour, Thorpe shook iimse f td m " """'' '"^""t the to h,s feet. He took hi"h« , ^"^ ""^'' Ponderously rose "ade his way out with:! a ; fd™'" f^"'" "- -ite'r. Z ^*-t tile st^(^p^ ri *»^» the Embankn^e.^ g:rd::'Ke"r!;,"l "" ™"'"S foliage of «" to him the fact of his 'T ' ™' """'°'''^"=d fo re- you going , . ■ ,„ ,3^// '"^ P^sence. ■ ■ Which way a« I don't know " t^j,^ -I think I'll tk;,'",""'"^'^^ absently. ..r,,,, . myself. '^''^ » "ai. „„ ^he Emba',kment-by "-^^ri,r'^,;Ttor-" -"-- of "..».. w.th an effect of soiicLd "fa ^i:^?: '" ! ' ','■<= ^^--d Seenie?" Tliofn^ '"'*'^ «ened control. him by su,pri.se. "^ ^P'"='> ^ ''f 'he suggestion took r.u.T^T "^ things to be se,tI„H ■■'"" """"• "■ "'^'^-^^^ ■'-'>' --theirdS;.::: ^.flffr I h 'Jr li ! 1 . n\ jii ^ Itlii lil 132 THE MARKET-PLACE to take. " You spoke, you know, of— of some employ- ment that— that would suit me." Thorpe shook himself again, and seemed by an effort to recall his wandering attention. " Oh yes," he said, with lethargic vagueness—" I have n't thought it out yet. I '11 let you know — within the week, probably." With the briefest of nods, he turned and crossed the road. Walking heavily, with rounded shoulders and hands plunged deep in his overcoat pockets, he went through the gateway, and chose a path at random. To the idlers on the garden benches who took note of him as he passed, he gave the impression of one struggling with nausea. To his own blurred consciousness, he could not say which stirred most vehemently within him, his loath- ing for the creature he had fed and bought, or his bitter self-disgust. The General, standing with exaggerated exactness upon the doorstep, had followed with his bulging eyes the receding figure. He stood still regarding the gate- way, mentally summarizing the events of the day, after the other had vanished. At last, nestling his chin com- fortably into the fur of his collar, he smi^d with self- satisfaction. " After all," he said to himself, " there are always ways of making a cad feel that he is a cad, in the presence of a gentleman. ' ' CHAPTER X P)N a Sunday afternoon earlv in i? u girl from time to time rubhln ,t ~"'Part.,.e„t. Tlie with a napkin out o the, ' 1 h' T"" '™'" "'^ ^ndow a .0, , deal through tl'l'Sowt^h iT'^' """^ ^"""^ of petulance. ' ^'^^ Sequent exclama- to Baedeker : • As thJt ai o ^ T "^ """-""^cording ^lear up some time. Just vou hf "? ^' ^"-'^ »^"st see some Alps yet. " ^ ^''^ Patience, and you 'U " Where we 're g-oino- " ^i, " the head-porter told 4 it ' ^T^ '""" interposed, anywhere else." ' "^^'^ ^^^^^s cloudier than "I don't think that can be so" T^ languidly, from his corner ' -""^h. ^eetacle, had givefhf„r2l'''"^'''^'^''^PPi''«=^. as a -d .a. or ^^^^^^^^^^^ than a thou- could ever havrim"rned"hir,n>-°' "''^ -°°- ">- "^ They had been shy w^ir, at ..""^"^^^""^P^-'P'- first week his experimrnt had b ""= °"'set-and for the that between th'en.™ vt'fheyli d tt T '^"" "'"^^ good enough. He had hJ • ' ''^™ him quite it out with the girl-she wa,T '"°"«''' "■»• '° ^ave easiest to talk frlnkly-LdL. T' '° "'"°^' "e felt it mense relief that ,i ! .'"' '^'seovered, to his im- them as en/nmbt 'f^ TtTfr """ '" ''^ -^--i'"" tactful geniality, he te. etert?. ""'."""°™'''»' «'h they were all ex^em^y' r^f ^f,;;^'"' ^-^ '"--"- So far as he could iudo-p thl "*>"='"'-'^- people, both i..tellectu?nv''7'''"'''*'="P"'''-- young spoke French, and h to ..er'em?'"'"^','"- ''"' ^'' to him ren,arkable proficTe,, 'v Tb ' ™* "'='" ^^^'^^ the repositories of an astmS ^"""K """ds were they knew who Charles the ^'1''"°""' "' "''■""nation : to their uncle the dist t on be weeTo^th"' "T"^" <"" esque arches ; they exnlii, p7 > ! ^"' ""'' '^''n'an- the Anabapti ts ; theltld w , ^'^ ""^ "'^"" «"h Bishop and the rats n^ n- ' "''"' "'^ «'ory of the that probablytbe/e h d nfr T ' '^^^'^^•^ '"'""• and WiIIia,„ Tell w™ .;!... "'^" ''^^n any such nmn a» - -.. --u .hey gel all this out of the guide^ r . 136 THE MARKET-PLACE books which they pored over with such zest. It was impossible not to see that they were famihar with large numbers of the subjects that these books discussed, and that the itinerary which they marked out had reference to desires and interests that they had cultivated for them- selves. ^ Julia, upon even first sight, made a much pleasanter impression than her mother's hesitating description had prepared him for. As he came to know her well he ceased to remember that there was a question in 'any mind as to her being a pretty girl. There was less colour in her face than he could have wished. Her smooth, palhd skin, almost waxen in texture, had a suggestion of delicate health which sometimes troubled him a little, but which appealed to the tenderness in his nature all' the time. The face was unduly thin, perhaps, but this, and the wistful glance of the large grey eyes in repose, made up an eflfect that Thorpe found touched him a good deal. Even when she was in visibly high spirits, the look in these eyes seemed to him to be laying claim to his pro- tection. She could be merry upon occasion, in a gentle and tranquil way, and as her self-confidence expanded under the shelter of their growing intimacy, she disclosed to her uncle plenty of initiative and individuality— but what he felt in her most was a peculiarly sweet and girlish trustfulness, which made him like himself more than he had ever done before. He could feel that he was at his ver>^ best— a hitherto unsuspected best— when Julia was about. He wanted to buy for her everything in the win- dows upon which she bestowed the most casual approving glance. It was a delight merely to look at her, and to meditate upon the felicity of being able to do things for so charming a girl. Alfred made a less direct demand upon his uncle's ad- \J The market-place 13^ wIrS„d"f • " T ' "^^ ^°°^ ^^^^- a^l round He ■ ^t:sST^^^^^^ -^ -t.^^;^ about hi. ^:t his choice ofartTc ^^°^P^^ """d to be related to ™switU^.^„ bashes, wastothfu:de'r„reTu:t:b^^ Which his'„o?,Lf 1 f eT^S'tHlf "" "'""'P""^ Thorpe faned to detect anTsTgnsTtlT '^'""' '^""' never very late it, ti,. „ • ^"""^ """» "as devotior to thl task of hr^"'"^' ""*' '"''"" ""'^ "--^'^^ the-way Ices dt r;."^. "P ""^ P'«"^' "' <>»'-of- party '^it'hrtiht„cra„d'rt:-'''""'„^ ™* "^ '"« or thenmelvp^! T,-,,! 7, ^ ^^^m, or a bag, noted with especill SXr""'l ^"""^ "^"- ^'-P^ attitude towaM W «■ ^er Tr r; '''"'"y "ig-brother him to ayoid the co„v "ion thTt T "^ " "^^ '"P"^'^'- ^^^ not to appreciate ^h CM rn r "?.' '™P'^'°" tone~and Thin Tf """'^ affectionate than the UaLtC'TrtofL" t^f ttX'ha? -r .row„ their mother, point of view. Z'Z netrt-" actl?'hi°dh"''' f "'"' '^''•"•P= ^-nprehended its char- fn^r^stt fhr ■"' "'"^ ^'™' ^''""" -S"d fo Julia s - ~ '^i^^^utiuii. iney look their !W 1. i 4 \ Ui 138 THfi MARKET-PLACfi uncle one day to see where William the Silent was assas- sinated, and the next to observe how Rembrandt's theory of guild portrait-painting differed from Van der Heist's, with a common enthusiasm. He scrutinized with patient loyalty everything that they indicated to him, and not infrequently they appeared to like very much the com- ments he offered. These were chiefly of a sprightly nature, and when Julia laughed over them he felt that she was very near to him indeed. Thus they saw Paris together— where Thorpe did re- linquish some of the multiplied glories of the I^ouvre to sit in front of a cafe by the Opera House and see the funny people go past— and thence, by Bruges and Antwerp, to Holland, where nobody could have imagined there were as many pictures as Thorpe saw with his own weary eyes. There were wonderful old buildings at Lubeck for Julia's eyes to glisten over, and pictures at Berlin, Dres- den, and Dusseldorf for Alfred. The assumption existed that the excursion into the Thuringenwald to see the memorials of Luther was espe- cially for the uncle's benefit, and he tried solicitously to say or look nothing which might invalidate it. There were other places in Germany, from Mainz to Munich, which he remembered best by their different beers. They spent Christmas at Vienna, where Julia had heard that its observance was peculiarly insisted upon, and then they saw the Tyrol in its heaviest vesture of winter snows, and beautiful old Basle, where Alfred was crazier about Hol- bein than he had been at Munich over Brouwer. Thorpe looked very carefully at the paintings of both men, and felt strengthened in his hopes that when Alfred got a little older he would see that this picture business was not the thing for a young gentleman with prospects to go into. II The market-place j^a cramped and fluttering Th ■ "." ' '"?«' ''""'^- " °"^^ good deal it lA ?• '''' P"""'"'* """^ ^'="Pi«t a ture u„i;elL^^e1f Vr. 'f "/^^" '"^ ''S^ cipher it, sentence V sentence withT fi '"""'i- '° '^^■ was from General Kervkk ' '' ^"''"^- " I,a^tn,"r' """■"'"^ '^'•"'•P'' ^^'onished his young com- panions by suggesting an alteration in their route In » roundabout and tentativp fo.i,; • ""//°"'6- in a he called ituT! ^"^ter-resort. The fact that lie caned it Montroox ra sed in Tulia'^ inin,i o a .• ,...„......„ „„ ,„„„ g„ua faith. Their uncle had displayed, ■fe I 'I |i ! >• I 140 THE market-place: M' '* Mi ^1 %^ "''''' comforting freedom from discrimination among European towns ; he had, indeed, assured them 71 Z '^"' '^'^ ""''' ^11 ^"^ to him. That h^ should suddenly turn up now with a favourite winter-re- sort of his own selection surprised them considerably but upon reflection, it also pleased them. He had humoured all their wishes with such unfailing and bountiful kindness, that It was a delight to learn that there was something h^ wanted to do. They ^ould not finish their breakfst^m the guide-book had been brought to the table cli?^ r n?r '?^'''^^^ ' ' ' J^^^^ ^^^ ^"^^ then. ' ' The Castle of Chillon is there ! " ';^ Why of course ! ' • said Thorpe, complacently. They laughed gayly at him for pretending that he had baTr T?' T^ ^' "' good-humouredly accepted their banter. He drew a serious long breath of relief, how- ever when their backs were turned. It had gone off much better than he had feared. Now, on this Sunday afternoon, as the train made its su.e-footed way across the mountains, the thought that he was actually to alight at Montreux at once fascinated and depressed him. He was annoyed with himself for suffering it to get such a hold upon his mind. What was there in it. anyway ? There was a big hotel there, and he and his youngsters were to stop at it, and if he acci- dentally encountered a certain lady who was also stopping there-and of course the meeting would oear upon its fac! the stamp of pure chance— what of it ? And if he did meet her, thus fortuitously-what would happen the.i ? No doubt a lady of her social position met abroad great numbers of people that she had met at home. It would not in any way surprise her-this chance en- counter of which he thought so much. Were there sufficient grounds for imagining that it would even inter- THE MARKET-PLACE pleased him It mvJZ. V °'^ ''°™ ""«^'' ^he fact that she produced salr-'^'"'''^"' '° ''^^-"^i^ He reasoned thifout satkL^ •,'"P"'''''°" "P°" ''»'• beautiful womeutralr fr^^'?; *° ""'"^^'f- These of a rich husbaui, "ust hlvecu^ r/ '^ "" ^°"^'-'-' delicacy of consc/ousress'^ : ^^^ZZ ^^^"''""^^ have developed for themselves what mtht Z 'uT' sixth seuse-a power of feelfn.. TtL ? , '"'"^'^ " about were thinking of them Mo' th " " ""' "^" caught a glimmer of what he fek to hi f." """^ ""' """^ this sense, in the company of UdV Cre- "^T'"" °^ not say that it had been dLceruZ I ^'t "^ ^"''i voice, or her manner predselv h!T ^ ""' °' ""^ had seen it, somehow ^' "' ^^ ""^ ^"^ «>« he on!"w:rs:,rdrfn^the t'''d"~'''r""'^ "■^' ■" October, party, she had shCntme torn:!,'' '°^".-"»'^y-house idea that he was nroTounT """'^■"'"•y satisfaction in the follow that irPebruar imrtr.'' ^yt.r-^i, i^.^,,, ionable winter-resort T^dT km '''='"<=«°"s of a fash- of friends, sh:;:uM p^^'a ™atn'„-r "'•^'^ r ""'^ The abject fear thaf X/ ■ , ^"^""o'' 'o hnn whatever? -Skulked abTut r rCrfnt^h Thir' TT "'' drove it back whenever it sZllfll^T.'^'l'^' ^^ Ignominious. "^""'' ^^""^a o^ I too 142 THE MARKET-PLACE h', ■', •'i The young people at the other side of the compartment forever w,p.„g the window with the napkin, andVraTning tenir'A "' "'^ '""""=• ^""''^ "'^ unsettled at^ tention A new perception of how much he liljed them thoughts. It had not occurred to him before, with anv deiimteness, that he would be insupportably londy when the time came to part with them "ciy wnen ^^ Now, when he dwelt upon it. it made him feel sad and He said to himself at once, with decision, that there lie d be no parting ,t all. He woul.. take a house with doubttT; tT' *^^ *■"■" '-- -"•> W". He could not doubt that this would be agreeable to them; it would solve every problem for him. His fancy sketched out the natural and legitimate ex tensions of this project. There would be. /rst"f alf a house in town-a furnished house of a modest sort. havLg no pretension save to provide a cheerful temporar^ shelte? for three people who hked one another. Here the new household would take shape, and get its right note oT' character. Apparently Louisa would not be urged Z frZ^"\f *J' '"'"^*°'''- He said to himself with frankness that he did n't want her. aad there had hZ nothing to indicate that her children would pine for her She showed good sense when she said that her nlace was Z h? t°^' ^"^ t """ ""=^^"-^' '•""^ "^^ 'he shop No doubt there would be a certain awkwardness, visible to o hers If not to themselves, about her living n one part of London and her children in another. But htre afso nSieT. """ ™""' '^"■"^ °" ■—''• "-Mas, this t- mshed house .n town would be a mere brief o;ertnre to to hlv ^-r-*; "°"= ^"""'^y »''"^'°° he was going to have, with gardens and horses and hounds and arti THE MARKET-PLAr-K his dreams. ° '^^^'^ ""' consumaation of it to them for a hte™ HfeTff 1^ '^"' ''- "-ing given he thought of this. Helmiled "/T"^ "'"''■' "'" ^» ture Julia made, PoHshT^ ,t „,af ^ 7^'?' ^ "' *^ P'- lar movements .,<■ her ,I,VW , vehement circu- comic vexation at --.e d?ad v ' h! ""' 'K'" S"»«i«g in side. Was hae ev. a swi^tf '^ "^ '^""^"P^ ""t- this world ? V, ;M hlrT^ °': """■^ '°™We girf in to manage the "1 "1127' ° ^' '°"^ "'"^^^ ~ He should like i tomeLeh ^.T'"^ ' ^' ^"^"^d. Julia looked fragi e T^ZT^ "'^' '^""''^ ''= ^-^oided. twenty one ne?t"rn?h"XSrfh7t"" *' "°""' "^ enough age for the slip-hfr J u., ^^^ ^ ^^^ture everything. Ver^Hk!;; I! """m"' ""■* """'^ "^^e thing; hehadobirvedfnherrr,;""/" '"' '»^'> thought of matrimony had^v. ' T "'^^ "'S° "'='t a that was a snbjectTpon whiJ „f ""''"^ ''''' ''"''■• Yet asked to give pledgeHvtt C .sT"' ^'^ ''"''' ""' ^ that he was a goTd fLiow o'"?^ f '="^'"S O"^. and onv ..c barest justice to' Julia's tastes and iuT. M it was judgment to III ■f II 744 THE MARKET-PLACE take it for granted that he wonld be a good fellow Yet Zn^; -T T^ ^'"^y' "'"• *^* hypothetical young manm n, could never be quite so innocently and com pletely happy as-for instance-the family party in tWs con^artment had been during these wonderful "ht tnr'!e?r'r",'' ''' ""^^"^ ""^ "'"-^"^^ beside him, and turned o look out with a certain iixedness-as f e m.ght chance to catch a glimpse of the bridegroc^n wi h seren ty of heir prospective home. A steep white cliff receding sullenly against the dim grey skyHne a firm house grotesquely low for its size.^crouchfng unde bTg shelving galleries heaped with snow; an opeiiinl n front, to the right, where vaguely the;e seem^ to be a va^ky ,„.o „,,eh they would descend-lie 1 tlies^ things. They remained in his mind afterward as a part o something else that he saw, with his mental vi ion a men of Lady Cressage, attired as he had seen her in the saddle, her light hair blown about a little under her ha a spot of colour in the exquisite cheek, the cold Ii ipe': som.1 dignity of a queen in the beautiful proHle The picture was .so actual for the instant that he ut- tered an invohnitary exclamation-and then looked hastily round to see whether his companions had hean, it Seeniiiigly they had not ; lie lolled again upon the com: forties., cushion, and strove to conjure up o ,ce more the apparition. Not: iiig satisfactory came of the effort Upon consideration, he grew uncertain as to whetlin he had seen anything at all. At the most it was a k iil of lalfdr-ain which had visited him. He yawned "t the thouK,,., and lighted a fresh cigar. All at'on" , Lis 11 nd ow. Yet gs for the ;al young and coni- y in this ul three lim, and as if he )om with turb the lite cliff, a farm- ider big ning in to be a tv these s a part ivsion, at present- r in the ler hat, iniper- he ut- looked iard it. e coni- 3rc the eflbrt. her he ind of r»t the i niiud I^HE MARKET-PLACE had become too indolent to do S^^^ ''^^ shapeless impression that thert wo'uIdT ''"''"^'- ^ things to think over ]ater on flT. T ^' ^ ^^^^ many again. '^^^" «" ^'^ted nito his brain and out caw o'ut toTisXe.' °^""'""^ "^'"^ ^°"' "ow ? " he " Oh, I could shake them r ■• ,i, j , '» this •■ ■ A view of shZiar h f """"■ " Li^^ten greater part of the Lake nfr ^^- ""bracing the ■"ou...ai„s, is suddemAi: os:r™VT't "" •"■^™""'""« now-or were a minute ago Yo„ .^ ' ^''"" '^^ "<= some sort of valley in frf,?; of „ , '"'^ "'" "'^'•^ 's could only see one moum^ w Lh ' '"'' "'^ ^"- '^ ' ^ "Why, it .s all moJn • ri'd '°r" "■-■" come to that," Thorpe insi ted Iff • °"'' "''''" >■<>" You 're on mountains y~' nT ,^ ^?""' P^versity. ■• You know what I mean " ih ^^ '""^■" -just beyond the village Yes it if ''''■"'• " «^« ' yoar^Lake of Geneva, at'all ev^n;., ■ " ™'^^- ^'«^- ''' i"K through VhegL""'!! ~',°";;'" l-o'-ted Julia, peer- el« : it 's of no colour at nl H'^r'^ '"'^ everything mch a lovely blue r r ' , i "^ "' •'"••'' "'^^ays paint it ~ught to return y^^, Z^^ ^H'^ «"'- Oovern- -idl^'uriViCy^,;' r-r- -t day... comed a drows^ mS\; : ^-;<' "-ye.,, and ^'u ■ns racket of the train ..el.Iwed U elfil ""■ ""-'J""- tomorrow or next day, touiorrmv " '""™"'' "f ears. ^' '""'"rrow or next day," i„ his 10 CHAPTER XI FROM their windows, high up and at the front of the big hotel, Juha looked down upon the I^ake of Geneva. She was in such haste to behold it that she had not so much as unbuttoned her gloves ; she held her muff still in her hand. After one brief glance, she groaned aloud with vexation. Beyond 'ihe roadway, and the deserted miniature pier of Territet, t)oth dishevelled under melting and mud- stained snow, there lay a patch of water-motionless, in- conspicuous, of a faded drab colour- which at some small distance out vaguely ceased to look like water and, et a little further out, became part and parcel of the dullgrey mist. Save for the forlorn masts of a couple of fishing boats, beached under the shelter of the pier, there was no proof in sight that this was a lake at all. It was as un- inspiring to the eye as a pool of drippings from umbrellas in a porch. While her uncle and brother occupied themselves with the luggage being brought up by the porters, she opened a window and stepped out upon the tiny balcony. A flaring sign on the inner framework of this balcony he- sought her in Swiss-French, in the interests of order, not to feed 11 birds. The injunction seemed meaningless to her until she perceived, over by the water, several gulls lazily wheeling about. They were almost as grey as the fog they circled in. Suddenly they seemed to perceive her in turn, and, swerving sharply, came floating toward the It of the Lake of she had her muflf groaned ure pier id mud- iless, in- ne small id, ; et a uU grey ■ fishing ; was no i as un- nbrellas '•es with opened >ny. A ony he- ler, not gless to al gulls -' as the ;ive her ird the THE MARILET-PLACE j that the smfle with ^S as sheT"' ." ^"^"^ '° ^er meet her uncle's look wis »1^ "'^^' "''" """^ «ble to Apparently th°7miT'^,'^"'' "''""^ ''«™«n>- "Oh. now, you mu° ;!-t I T? "'°«^"'^^ <^'-'»de him. adjured her. " We v. ? ''°""' "" J-"" '"ck," h^ Have you seen yT^r "or^-f. '^ ''"'""" ^^^ '>"' alley to the right of the doo- tV"" "'"■^' '° ^ "«'« finer view than these v4.dZs Oh'' '''' " '''•^ ^" '^«" -this is the best view i^th?' , ,' ^°" "^"'^ "'^ •="'»h ■I say, look here ' " Tu^ • .. Alfred, who. having gVne oul nn"''"^'.'^" ""'"^ ^'^^"^ "^ P- actical defiance. A score of h T^"' "> °^'^'''^ and dodging i„ excited co.lsTon C ^ iT """" '^^ing their ears with a painful tamour T ^'°'' "'^'"' ^'""S one of the birds, recoveriur •?[' "" ""^ ^""^ "S^i", would make a c^rviTswoon d ''' '" '"" ''"'yhnrly windows below, and triumnhantr"?^' ''''^' "■'-' ""^^ °' "■■;^.« ti.t had been tlj^ 'i , ' hT 1 '" '"^ '^^"^ '^^ Thorpe, leaning over his m,,;, l^alcony one floor beLw aL ^' '"^ *^^^ ^ ^^^y on a feeding the bird. t"jT^ 'T ^" ^^" ^^^'' ^- said something over her s Z^ ^ "' '^" ^'^ ^"' ^"^ not visibl, . ' '^'^"^^^^ t« ^ companion who was " '^ell, that 's prettv coni " i, who had con,e to'stanVbe ide Lm^'^'s^ '° "'' "'«•• fame s,gn down there that we Ve "ot r ^°' "" here. Or perhaos sh. .=„.. ...T J°'- . ' "'"' «e it from * --, I icttu rrencii." 148 THE MARKET-PLACE till 1 horpe re- on the ^^^Z^V:^t'' ''' -- '-' When at last he went ii.sirio ti, waiting for him with fi. ' ! ^'"""^ P'^°P'^ ™re The ifght „^ Taiui h^f."'"'■'"■°"''^''°^^''''"'^-• Theyhadas^erta7ned?,UH .'.""'' P'^"'>' •"■ '™-- a servant hadT^u "d t "n ufat ul"! "f ' f '""°" '"^ ^ wait, and Alfred was almos tr^rtlt'heTT ""'"' from the window ^^ ^^^^ ^^e" it hal'^rt^dlnti' ' "^'"" "■^"^-"-^' -■'-'' '"ev begged hT„,„oUo stir TfT""" '^'''"'' *"" ^''^" J""'» tired he reined holes Ive ""? "[' "'" '''S""^^' "^^''^^ thing rathe? tt tft Ze' T,:' '" r"'" "^ ''"^- said, there should be no t> k b« o ?, 'T'' '"''' "ot listen. The n-irtv tZ Tj ""* ''* would -.nd out into tte'il X ";r"' '"""""^'y- ns Julia had lonj a.; said ^ '! "•■'"'"'S "- vile, but. hv_siush the. .tuitt ir/nxrors^:'^ ca^^eT^tt^htrrron:':!^-^^ J. uc aume rous photographs of what I ll! 150 THE MARKET-PLACE they were entitled to behold from the windows of their hotel seemed more convincing than pbotogrophs usually were. As the joung people inspected tlietn, tliey becan^e reassured. It was not credible that such a i-oble vista would forever deny itself to such e unesL pilgrims. Who 1 their uncle introduced this time his nncien; formula about the certainty of brilliant suivshine in the morning they somehow felt like believing him. ' " Yes-I really think it must change,' Julia declared, with her fascinated glance upon the pbotographs Alfred looked at his watch. " We 'd better gei along to tae hotd, had n't we ? " he suggested. " By the way "—Thorpe began, with a certain uneasi- nesso^nanner-" speaking of dinner, would n't you like to dme ex the big table d'hdte, instead of up in our .sitting- room ? " " If you 're tired of our dining aloiie~by all means " answered Julia, readily. There was obvious surprise however, in both her look and tone. " Tired nothing ! " he assured her. '• I like it better than anything else in the world. But what I mean is-I was thinking, seeing that this is such a great winter-re- sort, and all the swagger people of Europe come here— that probably you youngsters would enjoy seeing the crowd. ' ' Julia's glance, fall of affectionate appreciation, showed how wholly she divined his spirit of self-sacrifice " We would n't care in the least for it," she declared. " We enjoy being a little party by ourselves every whit as much as you do— and we both hate the people you get at table rf'//^/«-and besides, for that matter, if there are any real swells here, you may be sure they dir^ in their own rooms." Why, 01 course ! ' ' Thorpe exclaimed , . ly, in palpa- THE MARKET-PLACE ,-j We self-rebuV*» " r ^ .^ , thinking of. Of JJsTtl 7h' ^ ™"''' '■"'« heen impression of rLlSvr^H '"'"'I '"'" "•^'-""' "'« behind him T?T f '.''''" ^"^ ""comfortable night that he'^ted hT:,C"ch "' 'l'" 1='^^'' ^'"^ "--i Although it was noX day%hf °t t' '"V"''''^- outlines of the tr»« ,■,,] .'"^'^^ y«t' he could see the hill, which monopoSed LT"°"' °r "^^ '''«■ '"°"-='^"' He watched his nephew now-having first assured him self by a comprehensive downward glance that ^ otw wmdows of the hotel-front were open. The young ma„ seemed tremendously moved, far too much so to talk Thorpe ventured once some remarks about the MexTcan mountams, which were ever so much bigger as he i membered them, but Alfred paid no heed.° He conUnued to gaze acmss the lake, watching in rapt silence one fac^t after another catch the light, and .stand out from the murky gloom, radiantly white, till at last the whrhori^ sun fell full on h,s face. Then, with a long-drawn sigh h^ejnrned, re-entered the room, and threw himself into a ^1^ ■'.Vf '°° ^°°^ '■" ''^ d^'ared, with a half-groan " I did n't know it would be like that " ^^^ Why nothing 's too good for us, man," his uncle told " T»al is," said the boy, simply, and Thorpe, after THE MARKET-PLACE with the coffee, ' "'' "'^ ™"« was coining in PlainU'aftf 3 j;;^ ^"2 l^ "^'^^kfast," her „„cle ex- -»ri- he had so su^ri^™^'^"'»kedhi„forthe » .-t, indL:"tLrthe:t;f;j-.e™ess, which was tranquihty of his own dLT ""'^ ">= excessive unusual deliberatiou J^, tkZ T "^^ "'" "'* «"d! found themselves at the e d „??;'^ "°"''"S- ">« they P-ntly, he had but made^L^L'nt: ^^^^^' "--■ "P" ■Now you miiof „'♦. ., ^ "^S^ining. 'o them tLn. "1"J:;^"/--«='"'''''-" -need think I 'd just like to lie i o^ '"f ."^'^ 'naming- Jai read one of your novels n'f ""°''"' ^"^ P^^^"- •"ey went to t^efroo^r "rJ'^' '''^""o- ■"-.ence "eursiou. He was so Lxiou^trh'"' ^" ™™^'i'-'^ there was to be seen that, Zn fu" "^'^ ""'"' ^' "" --aked and befurred, and sta„/ f- '"'"™«d, pronerly he scolded a little. "^ "^'""S « the w, «..„v^ ' What on earth is th-t u ,wi«- a -atent suarl iu'hi "toneth ch"" ' " ""^ ^'^■='^-^''. ^He . 7 ^°" "-"^ till noor^'.?" "^ "°^^' '° ^er ear. - -'' .- the Window and-cameT;,7;„Cr:: 154 THE MARKET-PLACE I if m lil' ll'J I f ""1 h i " Oh, I forgot : I was going to feed the birds. There are' several of them out there now. ' ' As she spoke, she busily broke up -^niv^ o^ tbe rolls on the table. Her face was bright icii th- pleasuie of the thought. " If you don't much mind, Julia," her uncle began, with almost pleading intonations, " I rather think I would n't feed those birds. The rule is there before our eyes, you know—and it 's always ^'— y idea that if you 're at a hotel it 's the correct thing to abide by its rules. It 's just an idea of mine— and I daresay, if you think about it, ycu '11 feel the same way." The girl freed the last remaining bread-crumb from her gloves. " Why.iof course, uncle," she said, with promptitude. Although there was no hint of protest in her tone or manner, he felt impelled to soften still further this soli- tary demonstration of liis authority. " You see I 've been all round the worll, my little girl," he -xplained, haltingly, " and when a man 's done that, ana knocked about everywhere, he 's apt to get finicking and notional about trifles every once in a while." " You re less so than anybody I ever knew," she gen- erously interposed. " Oh, no I 'm rot. You don't know me well enough yet ; that 's what 's the matter. And you see, Julia— another t ,'ng— inst bee ise you saw that lady throwing out bread, that aint a very good reason why you should do it. You don't know what kind of a person she may be. Girls !,dv^ got to be .0 frightfully careful about all that sortof thmg." Julia offered a constrai: i little laugh in comment. " Oh, you don't knov ^ow careful I can be," she said. "But you 're not no d ? " he entreated her— and for answer rfhc came ehinu him, and rested an arm on It 's THE MARKET-PLACE his Shoulder, and patted it tt. . , '^^ his own. .' That 's somethin^k t'' ""'' ^^"^ -^'th the world ! " he exclaimed with ^' "^^^^' "^^^^ in When at last ^h^ o T 7' ^ fervour. Jort wort of his brl^LZaZT.'i-'^ ^°"^' "^ "-^-^ A res Hess activity suddenly L formed hff """'^ ^' ^ «"'?• iit a agar, and began oari„„ . ^ movements. He he opened a window and v^J ! ""• ^^" " ""le on the balcony as wS n cerrtT k!""°"^'^ ^^ f- °« street below. Eventually tefdetiT:; " ^'^'^ °f "■= niece among th • nedpJl- '"^ "''^""fied his nephew and them in sig^t t-ii'^rmo": r"'' "'"• ^"'"""^'p fhop window, they dis pp": "a'^:" T «-<- "= '"^" "' Then he turned and came back", t^""^ '" ""^ 'o^i- buoyant air of a man whose affaL '! " ™'" "'"■ ">- He smiled genial! v t^ u- ,1 ^ Prospering, 'able in one ca'pacS^ ^and^aluhro"^ ^^thered'from the loved niece had broken up „d J"''' "^ ''^^^'' his be- open window. Waiting here't M ^^"f^ ^^^'^^ '<> "le mov,ng aimlessly about^washeldedr i'' *'"«' ?«"s »« a fragment. The bird dash^ . r"*^ ■"■"'• ^' '°'''ed on 'he instant the who le s^.ttit /f =" ^^^^='"' ^"^ He suffered the hubbub to m^Z^^ °^^ "'"^ °" ^ing. "'h.le he kept a watchfuTtw, f""f "P'^^^'' ''"^ ' ''-ttlf, cony to the left, below. U„hafn» . ™ """^ °" ">" bai: for enough to see whether th»'^^^ ^^ ~"''' "°t S^t out were drawn. H .. threw anoth^'K-"' ''"' ""'' "^"dow 'ooked at his watch, "ttalrf'" "''•''■"' ^""^ «'en Surely people travelling to !!, ™ ""^'"" P^st nine, 'his hour. '"^ '° *e scenery would be up by The stratee-v nf 1*00. • feathered confou JfLT '"°"^'' ''^^^<' t° "eep the mind. As a n.J!!.."."""™ commended itself .^ v! ^ (i Ifi, II III '% n I if ^ i.' Ill I V? 156 THE MARKET-PLACE remaining on the table, and put them in the drawer of a desk by the window. It even occurred to him to ring for more bread, but upon consideration that seemed too dar- ing. The waiter would be sufficiently surprised at the party s appetites as it was. Half an hour later, his plan ot campaign suddenly yielded a victory. Lady Cressage appeared on her bal- cony clad in some charming sort of morning gown, and bareheaded. She had nothing in her hands, and seamed indifferent to the birds, but when Thorpe flung forth a handfu of fragments into the centre of their whirling flock she looked up at him. It was the anxious instant, and he ventured upon what he hoped was a decorous com- promise between a bow and a look of recognition. She was in no haste to answer either. He could see rather than hear that she said something to her invisible companion within, the while she glanced serenely in the general direction of his balcony. It seemed to him that the answer to her remark, whatever it was, must have ex- erted a direct influence upon his destiny, for Lady Cres- sage all at once focussed her vague regard upon him, and nodded with a reasonably gracious smile ' ' It 's wonderful luck to find you here, ' ' he called down to her. Having played their part, he wished now that the birds were at Jericho. Their obstreperous racket made conversation very difficult. Apparently she made him an answer, but he could catch nothing of it " I 'm here with my niece and nephew," he shouted down. I don't hear what you say. May I come down and pay my respects-later on ? What is your number and when may I come ? " ' These questions, as he flashed them in review through his mind, seemed to be all right from the most exacting social point of view. Doubtless it was equally all right THE MARKET-PLACE ,._ -o difficulty now iH 2ri J r K ■■^P"«d-aad he had it would be ve.y n,oe of ate t^ ''""' "^^ '"^"^'■'at time. She told Wm the numterTl' '^^' '" ^" ^""^'^ went in. number-and then almost abruptly Thorpe, during this hour ti,,. volcanic energy Hetn-.^. *"^"*<'' «»°ted with another of haf/a do^n TauSn^"' ^'■'""'^•" °- ''f'- about, with a preposterous ah^ "7"' ""'^ "'^'"^ '^^"^^d to arrange in so^k^r^ff'^^ of ™<^<^ess. He strove should say, whenttis mllf^""'"" *^ **"«- that he but he could think rf r^f"'""!!"'"'-"^'^ shooW begin, It would be all right iT^ l'""' "'"^ ■«" ^''■"d «lly this present menlf'bar /n^ss h "T""'" ^''^ ^^^ "^ enough on the spur of the rr.\u"^^' '""'^ ^^'I and still was not realred ' '" "" ""* <^'"«- bi^'anTSd ''hat° thelt™ r*"! '^ *^''' *° '«»ive indispensable to the pro^riefe ?"'f !^ '^^-^ '"at as versation would necessarilv hl^t J ''^^'' '"^'■' <^on- eral character. H^^nllt^, °1 "^" ■""=' ^"'"al and geu- niece, he foresaw. A ma„ tmv!n"° ' f °^ '■==" ^''<»'"'i« and such a delightfullXv I» ^ """' " "'«=^ -would take on somf added ^ ''"^^^'"^ «'"« "iece ceived, in the eyes of ladtl^v n "' "f ""^^'y. "^ per- to estimate just how much^h^"^ ^'™^- »« "^^ed Of course he would say „o,hwr fr''^"^"'=«J''"«- book-shop ; a vague aUuslontf } ^^' """'^^ ^"d the ample on that h!ad But thl '"1°""^ ^"'^'^^ «-»"« be ences to Cheltenham ■ he Lnew?°"" ^ ^°"^^^'" '^fe'- that it suggested tuemott satTsfeT ""'"'. J""* ""dsaid if taken strictly by itsTlf TI^"^ '~^'^' guarantees, t>or J - ./ - -^ "^^"- And then !?n tn„«H ' ' a ^^" '-i'^n J uiia herself Tfci,^ -- — «^c wuma de- • -^^^^^ succeeded in striking up 158 THE MARKET-PLACE U 4 1 J- a friendship with them— ah, then everything would be all right. Perhaps they would take a fancy to Alfred too ! He was a boy, of course, but conceivably the fact that he wanted to paint, and knew about pictures, would ap- peal to them. He seemed to have heard somewhere that artists were the very devil among women. At last the weary time of waiting had worn itself out, somehow, and, after a final polishing before his glass, he went down, and found his right corridor, and knocked at the door. A pleasant voice bade him enter, and, liat and gloves in hand, he went in. As he had imagined, both ladies were present. He had not been prepared, however, for the fact that it was the American who played the part of hostess. It was she who received him, and invited him to sit down, and gen- erally made him free of the apartment. When he shook hands with Lady Cressage, there was somehow an effect of the incidental in the ceremony, as if she were also a guest. Nothing could have been simpler or more pleasing than the little visit turiied out to be. Miss Madden had sud- denly grown tired of tlie snowless and dripping English winter, and had as promptly decided to come to Switzer- land, where the drifts ought to be high enough, and the fro.sts .searching enough, in all con.science. They had se- lected Territet, becau.se it was familiar to her, and because it was on the way to Martigny and Bricg, and she had had a notion of crossing either the Simplon or the vSt. Bernard in winter. As .she found now, the St. Bernard was quite impracticable, but admittedly a post road was kept open over the Simplon. It was said now that .she would not be allowed to proceed by this, but it often hap- pened that she did the tilings that she was not allowed to do. The hotel-people at both Brieg and Bcri.sal had writ- THE MARKET-PLACE ,- ten refusing to let their horses attemnf fh^ c- - • could buy horses-a,[d t^n ^"■'^^"^■'<^- O"- -rely slowing pare:;l;L Itut JuliJir «' T," """'"""^ -y that they <,id uot Ja/t to W e' Th^' ",' '":.' wuh politeness, too, what he ,-n, M . '"^ '''"<' about his artist;,ephera,d said./ '°." "■"" '° ''"'■' '" for him to have such TiV ". "" •"•• "''-^ l'''^»«"" deu said thi/: herl " "iorrr,, ^' '^'"" ^''^ "Ed- ward, seemed hardr T ' -^^ ""'"'-''" " °'"'' ="^0^- a«svv;red the ft fcma J r"?" ••'"'■"""S -' =>"■ She direct to her but ttert „ "" '"'""' '' P"^""- '<> ■"enmry. h; fa, c d thrT """^ "° *""" '"»" '"'' or both ^ """ =""-* ""'' '"'■•^d, or unhappy, prii;Sn,'r.^ :^;/;rflr "^"^^ ?'^'-' '° "'-^ ^''- disciosed it-seif-asT^eS J: '. 'S du Mid"""' t"" "•^:^::;7^r;:=:firr-r'^™'" wanderers 'L'vr,. ad t e^ri:;;' Ttf "c" "'' '""^ "^ table!" privilege of company at our an answer to them. " ^"'^P^-^'^se for '^lie ladies exchanged a look "v .. M..dden, after the sli/htest of TaL ^Z ..^t ""'^ uappy.- - • "- -••••j»i wc very lit I i6o THE MARKET-PLACE Shortly thereafter Thorpe took his leave, and went downstairs and out. He wandered about till luncheon time, observing the mountains across the lake from vari- ous standpoints, and, as it were, with new eyes. He was interested in them in a curious new fcshion ; they seemed to say things to him. His lip curled once at the conceit that he was one of the Alps himself. CHAPTER XII In this brief period fh^ f, ^^^ Cressage came. come fused in a^^t tt el^S^"- ~ to have be- due to the presence nf fh^ ""imacy. This was clearly prescience he had shown in b" , ^^ ,'er" ""= ^"'"'« Both the ladies unaffecterilv f;i, , t that they seemed unwiinl ,o ' I ^ ' '" '""'" ™ not include her. TheT i Ja ° f ""^ ^'""^ ^'^'''^ '^''^ where she „.„t her brother l°i'' ' """'" '"'""^ 'h^' oal step quite natural b^fhtt .'hr'-.n" '""'■" ">«■- he had planned everylhin. , , "''"'"« ""'^'«- " thmg, it could not ha ' gone '1"T T ?"''""^ ^^^'V- Certain side speculationrienf ""' '"'"'« with which he vfewed tSa" VT" '° """ ^'"'•"•'■"ion "ttle signs to confirnu ,e ,u,^:;;^^tMh "^^ '"?""' ■"""^ been the readier to moke mnoh f r • "^ '"'" ^^^'^ had not over-keen aboueachol: /"''''• '^^^"^ ""^^ v^ere sweet-natured girl had cl! T"'''- '''''« h-ight, couple who in secll^nTdtatUetuh ^^d ''"™°" '° ' He was not quite convinced 70^? .'""'' y*""-- American ladv always wenuottt.r""' """ '"' to his observation a wilTul s^° !f °"'"'- ^"^ """"l be restrained by small ^^n^," l:^™';"''-™-^ no. the things she wanted to I "'^Jt. f""'" f™"' <>«'"« companion afforded him fcml r™" ' ;"'f'>oii» witii her °°"' '" "'"ch thought. With- I6t m . 162 THE MARKET-PLACE out any overt demonstrations, she produced the effect of ordering Lady Cressage about. This, so far as it went, tended to prejudice him against her. On the other hand,* however, she was so good to Julia, in a peculiarly frank and buoyant way which fascinated the girl, that he could not but like her. And she was very good to Alfred too. There was, indeed, he perceived, a great deal of individ- uality about the friendship which had sprung up between Miss Madden and his nephew. She was years his senior —he settled it with himself that the American could not be less than seven-and-twenty,— yet Alfred stole covert glances of admiration at her, and seemed to think of no- thing but opportunities for being in her company as if— as if— Thorpe hardly liked to complete the comparison in his own thoughts. Alfred, of course, said it was all on account of her wonderful hair ; he rather went out of his way to dilate upon the enthusiasm her " colour scheme " —whatever that might mean— excited in him as an artist. The uncle had moments of profound skepticism about this — monients when he uneasily wondered whether it was not going to be his duty to speak to the young man. For the most part, however, he extracted reassurance from Miss Madden's demeanour toward the lad. She knew, it seemed, a vast deal about pictures ; at least she was able to talk a vast deal about them, and she did it in such a calmly dogmatic fashion, laying down the law always, that she put Alfred in the position of listening as a pupil might listen to a master. The humility with which his nephew accepted this position annoyed Thorpe upon occa- sion, but he reasoned that it was a fault on the right side. Very likely it would help to keep the fact of the lady's seniority more clearly before the youngster's mind, and that would be so much gained. And these aunreliftminnu ttffar aV »>»^^ ^^, Lw^i^' iw i^»""<'. the remember that Alfred had i^H ""^.^ "™ P'='"'">-e to name as D'Aubignv whf.h u^ ''^'■''' Presenting his was what the dfgenerat D»r^''^>' "^ ^''neation k"ew 'ad and his sister'l ad m,ited n^ »'"" '""^ '"'■ '"'^ longagoatCheltenha„rati Ji^" ""' excellent change feed it to their uncle att^^ '"°"^ ""''' '"'"' ^°"- a show of trepidation as if hevf""."^, °^ ""^ '"P' ^"h radiant gayety he had^e Lve/tt, "'?"«"■ ^i.h tUem his card, with " Mr «7 ' ""'"^^ ^y showing it. At the din j; t b,e*^ ; .tlT '!,' ^"^'^ ' ' "'""^ "P™' he had made himsel p tu :/ ^n?' rr'''''''^"^^' fnguished an appearance h" Tl '7J'""'"''S how dis- make together inThelartment hi ^"^"^"'^ ""''' "°"'-^ 164 THE MARKET-PLACE I -i^M*' m, and walked on among the swarming luegers, up to Caux. Here, after luncheon, they had wandered about for a time, regarding the panorama of lake and mountains. Now, as the homeward descent began, chance led the two young people and Miss Madden on ahead. Thorpe found himself walking beside Lady Cressage. He had upon his arm her outer wrap, which she said she would put on presently. To look at the view he must glance past her face : the profile, under the graceful fur cap, was so enriched by glowing colour that it was, to his thought, as if she were blushing. " How little I thought, a few months ago," he said, " that we should be mountaineering together ! " "Oh, no one knows a day ahead," she responded vaguely. "I had probably less notion of coming to Switzerland then than you had." " Then you don't come regularly ? " " I have never seen either Germany or Switzerland before. I have scarcely been out of England before. ' ' " Why now"— he paused, to think briefly upon his words—" I took it for granted you were showing Miss Madden around." *' It *s quite the other way about," she answered, with a cold little laugh. " It is she who is showing me around. It is her tour. I am the chaperone. " Thorpe dwelt upon the word in his mind. He under- stood what it meant only in a way, but he was luminously clear as to the bitterness ot the tone in which it had been uttered. " No— it did n't seem as if it were altogether— what I might caU—your tour," he ventured. Thev had seen much of each other these past few days, but' it was still hard for him to make sure whether their freedom of inter- course had been enlarged. THE MARKET-PLACE 165 said, him- For a moment heT^dLr"^' =""'"'^^d then w,H a renewed :o^Z^Z "^ ''^■" '"' and her brother ^^1...,'^""' ''We niece of mine watching to noticel^r h"'i J' ^V"'" ' '■^''" "' And when they -re not tl?„ r t! """f "" "^^ '"^'PPy- ^'^rTl^.^St^^^^'- --^---. upon I did n't know a Hadlot t ,.^ '■ "^^'"^ °^ '''"''ers, one of n.y Director^i-I t ileloT" "' 'r^"'^' "^ " The Dent du Midi ilZt ■ "P"" "'^ '°^ta°t- don-t yon thinU ■^'sh ^markerTr^'-""? '"' ''°"='' Upon consideration tl , ' , ""'" " '^ f™" h«e." have taken a Ire^t ° ' . '^'™'' '° 8° fonvard. " i almost ''' make she would defer to'f ™f i^rt- " '"'""' '"'^'^ *^' fa^as' if t "p-in't^^'^r lierttk^ ^ ^ '"-^ "^ "'^ don't understand ,'" she ZZ " Vo" '" "'^"^- " ^ income for my fa her Ltuse vo, .^"^ ^'^^-S ^"^ like an uncle. Is thai k?" '^ ""^ *" 'P'^'' '<> "« He laugrlie/l e. — -— 1.„. ^ "., --ui.vvaat ui«consoiately. " No-that f i66 THE MARKET-PLACE It'-' M in M h"f vnn'V'" ''l'""' ^'"* ^"""^^"^ "S^'"- " I ««>l "^ -'<» tongue •■ I -vh"""^^'"'" "' """""^ ">" '^^'"^ '° his tongue. I ve been a poor man all my life-tiU now •■ was his eventual remark. nu now, " Please don't tell me that you have been very haoDv m your poverty," she adjured him, with thedTm flfcker of a returning smile. ■■ Very likely there are Iple who are so constituted, but they are not my kind I dl ? want to hear them tell about it. To iiie poverty is the horror-the unmentionable horror i " Thorpe put fervour into his voice. ■ ■ I was never recon- «lf that T .7 "":,""'" ' "'"" ""''"' ^"-"'"S to my. self that I 'd pull myself out of it. And that 's what 7^' T r" °^ '""-"^"rt^'l "ow toward those-toward those who have n't pulled themselves out of it " Your niece says you are soft-hearted beyond ex- ample." remarked Lady Cressage. "Who could help being, to such a sweet little girl as she « ? demanded the uncle, fondly ^ "She is very nice," said the other. " If one mav oav such a thing, I fancy these three months wUhhTh'e d^^nc:'^"""""' '=''"* "^°" '""■ ' ■" -- I "O'e a 4l ii'M THE MAKKET-PLACE 167 told he Hi ir^- i[ ;:, -" -^-g to myself,., he no friends to speak of-i ZT^t "" "^ "'^- ^ "^^ anything but the determinatL^ St company-j had n't Well, I .ve done that!^^d I Ve J™' °'" °' '"^ '""«• people that I naturally like bJI "'""^ "'^ ^'""^ "f question of whether ihey „o,7h rt™ *"^ =="»^ the frankly, that was what w7, JT ^^^ "^- ^ t^" V"" when I first met you Uil°?i"^ "^' '"="* °« of me now-but you frightened mt'>. ""''"^'''S ^t to you Well now, you sef I .„ . . '""" "" ""^^ °f ™y "fe. Of course •it''.s'',:c:'JseTu.:'.sTeu 1^ "' '"^"'^ a course of sprouts " Putting me through of ?h';refn"a:isrem:^ "nS'^ "^^^^^^^' ''"' ""^ ^P'"'' you're fun Of kind'esv'Thfrar '"v"'- "''"^"- that I snapped at you-about pZ- '""' ""'^' ^<»-S" All I remember about that i% •• 1,0 k ■ghtmg up with the thought thlt'tht,^^'"^ '"'^ '^' tumty should not pass unimproved " that" "' ""P"" did n't shine much in adverX ^°" ^"''^ '■= Now on that last point I ? * ^""^ """'^ '''='" yo« did. There would n't be'any platT^r f "'"' ''''''^'''■ shine... ' P ""^ ■■• which you would n't for the young. '. Her word, t ^^ "'"'^ '"'"^>' ^^ ^^^d her face hal clouded oZt Z 1^7''''' ^"°"^^^^' ^ut banter. °'^^'^- ^^^ ^^d no heart for the " — he half-groaned " t ^ i -.3 the right way to^alk to yc, °Ther ' fv "^^ ""=" i see you 're unhappy_and t,,.^'- . """^ ''" that I should like to ast ™.^ .- . " «^*'^ °" -'y iierve-.nnH . -- ^- -" " -ere was n't something I could i68 THE MARKET-PLACE tt; "1-iii iiTtV ^"^ "'^' """ '" "-^ '° "<'■"" c ^vas and I doii t know enough ^o do it " ■tie Had a wan smile for thanks " ft.i ^r ' is nothing/' she replied, genUy "" '^"* " Oh, there must be ! " he insisteH w^ i j I would to Jul— • °" ""^^ ' ^^^'^ ^^^^ ^« yo*^ as "Did I?" . " Well, I 'm going to, anyway," he went on «f«„fi Ignoring the note of definite dissent in W ? ^' " You are unhappy f You s^kelK . t -"^''^^P'^^"' rnn^ iir n spoke about bemg a chanp rone. Well now. to speak plainly if it is n'f l«?^, thinp- nn^ r "^^^ ^"^ of course you would do every- thing, and have everything-whatever you liked too^^ groJt: T^^^Y^^f "^- 'athe't;^hle tetsr i u- ^' ^^^ ^^'^' ^"^ then bit her lips to- g^^^i:u Halting, she frowned a httle in the eS Z I 'm Engh^h and Tur rr' "'^/'' "^'"American, and alike. B\tici:irngTorwS^: "LTir^^^r andirirtaJtv-rLr^jTL^^^^^^^^^ take , fron, Celia Madden than anybody eirit'^ but th.s .s the point, Mr. Thorpe : f do n'ot ^t Lt brl"^ THE MARKET-PLACE ,5 eluded with a minhless t^o. . • "^/"^"^^^ "-she con- should you ? .."''''^^'^' "°^^^tain laugh-" why on earth tell you. " ^'^^'^^^^y to tell you why. Sometime I will They walked on in silf r^ . • , put out her hand Iter ..X''::^^ T''^ »"« spread it over her shoulders '"'^ P^"^''' >•« earX^^r.i;^:t.t.r"t;e%''^^^ T ^^^ '° again " I a„ vexed withTyfelr/"^ "' "^'^ '^"''^ °" •• No"'i^wf " "f ■""'■■ "^ ^"Sg-^'-d. XX 0-0 — Dut I ouerht to hp. \r , the most shoclcing rubbish •• "' ■"*"" '"'^ '^Ik yo^vtTairUtfpU^f'Cat"'"'^; ^^•"^'-"'^ now is that I 'm „nf !" ,J "' y°" '^ thinking of allowed to h ar it But flZ"''' '"'"" '° "^^^ '-> some, I wish I c^uld m ke you .eTtwf - ' '"'"' '' friend as anv-as sol,M o«!. ^^^ ^ "' ^^ ^o^id a Wish I ,/, J -■fjn^-^au.^^^^^^^^^ true. I an rfsSe-^ ^hIT^^:;^ "^f-' '"'^ '"^ ^ ^ chanced to meet tw^^J.'^ ' ''^ '^['^'"'^ ' ? We 've civih-ties, and thL tZ? we veZe: hl^^'^ ''"='''"«'' hardly more is it ? nn^ I °^^^ acquamtances- been Ly ;'on te t7 meZ ^I r^ T"^ ^^^^^ ^-- talked to you more Xurmy alLl' TT' '^^^ suppose it was because you^enHn !, "" ^ should-! ' fri«v ' - ^ mentioned mv fafh^r p„f -...nd. .. .a,^er a big word for that, is n't it'? '~ MICROCOPY RESOIUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1^ |2.8 i^ 1^ S l£ il^ 1* " 1.8 ^ APPLIED IM/1GE S^I '85 J Ea«t Main 'ilrttl i ^-a Roch«il«r, N»w York 1*609 USA -^ (^18) *67 - 0300 ■ Phont = (716) 288 - 5989 - ro« Inc I/O THE MARKET-PLACE try* i " I can think " It 's been on Thorpe pouted for a dubious moment of a bigger word still," he said, daringly tlie tip of my tongue more than once " wy colder. The distant mountains, visible ever and cheerless blue, and sharply defined against the sky. It «ie hgh of day seemed to be going out of the heavens He hurried on beside her in depressed silence. tion of tT.'''""?' V """' ""''" ^"'^^"^ ^^^"^ ^^^^ i» a convolu- tion of the winding road, but they were so near that their voices could be heard as they talked. Frequently the sound of laughter came backward from them "^ at Jt nCdV;."^' ^"°"^' '°"" ^'^^^'" ^^ —"ted •'That 's a good reason for our joining them, is n't ■'< p : f .°"^ "^^^ ^t °"^^ ^^^"^^ ^»d pointed. But I don't want to join them!" he protested Why don't you stay with me-and talk ? " P'°^''*'^' •; But you bully me so," she offered in explanation. The phrase caught his attention. Could it be that it expressed her real feeling ? Slie had said, he recalled that he had made her talk. Her complaint was Ike ali admission that he could overpower her will. If that were "el^ci Vr' """"^'^ °' masterfulness still i:! serve sufficient to wni any victory " No-not bully you," he said slowly, as if objecting to e word rather than the idea. " That would n't bl pos siWe to me. But you don't know me well enough to understand me. I am the L-inH «f ^ , cnougn to ., . , ""^- ^ ^"^ "»e kind of man who gets the th.ngs he wants. Ut me tell you something • When I wasatHadlow I had never shot a pheasant^in my Hfe I used to do tolerably well with a rifle, but T hnr^u/u..^ THE MARKET-PLACE j^j was aa-es acrn r. f r ^ , , ^"^ wing— and that -and I si„p/, di/it,Th'at .ran' "tcTt "LT.T '" ' made myself be a crack shot ■• ^I^ot-and so I •^ vviiac u IS tnat you want- am^ +rv «.,<. n and resolution into gettingTti'a^ 1.^ '■°'"' '"'"'''' I don't think ther^s anvthirh , '''^''^"""S"'- reach, in. only helie^r/no^;^^ inSl;." ™'^ '"-•' THerh;::t:;p:::..'^;;t;=t■^■^v-■^ !■"--■ objects by sheer personal forceto'e Ihi,,. T '" ""','' secure them because one's n?,,! , ^' ^^ "'erely DeonIe'« fi,„. . ■ '^"'^■^^ "^ ^°"SeT than other people s— that 's quite another matter " tw"" hriald'"""' "' '"• " *^"' ^ ■" ^-bine the s..:' Ja^,"iiU'!r" srwiiTb:""^^"!" '-"■•■'""-" other people at all." '" P'-^^^ants left for "I don't miud being chaffed." he told her, with 172 THE MARKET-PLACE gravity. So long as you 're good-natured, you can make game of me all you like. But I 'm in earnest, all the same. I m not going to play the fool with my money and my power. I have great projects. Sometime I '11 tell you about them. They will all be put through- every one of them. And you would n't object to talking them over with me— would you ? " " My opinion on ' projects ' is of no earthly value- to myselfor anyone else." " But still you 'd give me your advice if I asked it ? " he persisted. Especially if it was a project in which you were concerned ? " ^^ After a moment's constrained silence she said to him You must have no projects, Mr. Thorpe, in which I am concerned. This talk is all very wide of the mark You are not entitled to speak as if I were mixed up with your attairs. There is nothing whatever to warrant it " '• But how can you help being in my projects if I put T/^r;/""^ ^^'P ^'^" ^^^'^^" ^e asked her, with gleefu boldness. " And just ask yourself whether you do really want to help it. Why should you ? You 've seen enough of me to know that I can be a good friend. And I m the kind of friend who amounts to something --who can and will do things for those he likes. What obligation are you under to turn away that kind of a f lend, when he offers himself to you ? Put that question plainly to yourself." 4 «""n " But you are not in a position to nominate the ques- tions that I am to put to myself, ' ' she said. The effort to import decision into her tone and manner was apparent. Tha IS what I desire you to understand. We must not talk any more about me. I am not the topic of conversation." ^ ^ " But first let me finish what I wanted to say." he in- you can tnest, all y money ime I '11 rough — > talking alue— to ed it? " 1 which to him, ch I am :. You th your if I put r, with ler you fou 've friend, lething What d of a lestion i ques- fort to larent. must nc of he in- THE MARKET-PLACE 173 sisted. My talk won't break any bones. You 'd be wrong not to listen to it^because it's meant to help you You re tnT T", ,^'^^ ^^ ^^^ *^^"^' ^^^^ ^resfage : JZ^ "^.^ P!,fc"larly hard and unpleasant position. L ke my fnend Plowden "-he watched her face narrowly but m vain, in the dull light, for any change at mention tin a^d'^r "^' "^ '"^"' ^^°-^- ^- ^-e a post tion and title to keep up. and next to nothing to keep it up on. But he can go down into the City and make money--or try to. He can accept Directorships and tips about the market and so on. from men who are disposed to be good to him. and who see how he can be of use o them-and m that way he can do something for himself But there is the difference : jou can't do these things or you think you can't, which is the same thing. You 're all fenced in ; you 're surrounded by notice-boards, telling you that you must n't walk this way or look that way that you must n't say this thing or do the other. Now your friend down ahead there-Miss Madden-she does n^ take much stock in notice-boards. In fact, she feeds the gulls simply because she 's fo, bidden to do t Butt. - you don't feed any gulls, and yet you 're annoyed w^ yourself that you don't. Is n't that the case Hate ^' I road you right ? " nave n t She seemed to have submitted to his choice of a topic There was no touch of expostulation in the voice Xh :^ZnLzr' ■■'■"• " ' "^ "■-- -" "■'"'' vo* •• I ■L^nnt ''tv "t"^"^^'^; ^'l- ^lf-co„fide„t emphasis. As I say, you re not contented-you 're not happy • you don t try to pretend that yon are. But all the ^ame though you hate it, you accept it. Yon thlL ,Lf . i!.' really must obey your notice-boards. Now what 'l 'tell 174 THE MARKET-PLACE you you ought to do is to take a different view. Why should you put up all this barbed wire between yourself and your friends ? It does n't do anybody else any good —and it does you harm. Why, for example, should Plow- den be free to take things from me, and you not ? " She glanced at him, with a cold half-smile in her eye. " Unfortunately I was not asked to join your Board." He pressed his lips tightly together, and regarded her meditatively as he turned these words over in his mind " What I 'm doing for Plowden," he said with slow vagueness meanwhile, " it is n't so much because he 's on the Board. He 's of no special use to me there. But he was nice to me at a time when that meant everything in the world to me-and I don't forget things of that sort Besides, I like him— and it pleases me to let him in for a share of my good fortune. See? It 's my way of en- joying myself. Well now, I like you too, and why should n't I be allowed to let you in also for a share of that good fortune ? You think there 's a difference, but I tell you it 's imaginary— pure moonshine. Why', the very people whose opinion you 're afraid of— what did they do themselves when the South African craze was ou ? I 'm told that the scum of the earth had only to own some Chartered shares, and pretend to be ' in the know ' about them-and they could dine with as many duchesses as they liked. I knew one or two of the men who were in that deal-I would n't have them in my house— but it seems there wasn't any other house they could n't go to in London." ^ "Oh yes, there were many houses," she interposed. It was n't a nice exhibition that society made of itself— one admits that,— but it was only one set that quite lost their heads. There are all kinds of sets, you knou . And —I don't think I see your application, in any event. The lew. Why en yourself e any good ould Plow- )t?" in her eye. ioard." yarded her 1 his mind, with slow se he 's on i. But he rything in that sort, him in for Bvay of en- and why a share of rence, but Why, the ■what did :;raze was d only to 2 ' in the as many the men m in my 3use they terposed. )f itself— ^uite lost v\. And nt. The ■""""" ™""" '--ai:::-- >~«v... r 1 I Ik. THE MARKET-PLACE he repeated, asif talking trWrnself^.^Tr^rf'""'' " things ' on a business basis ' '• '^ '"''^ '° ''^^^ u..^e.tand .on,'" s^r.^'ir. "^^^ " ^ ''™'' bro^^r'anTr^sL^;;.;'';!™^;'^^^ began, knitting Uis whici, his »i„<, aad bfe,f us'°"^''^,r s fh ""^ "'" You were saying tiiat vc, „ /'"'' "s the question. Board. YouLplnedin th 7 '!' "*'='' '° J"'" -V for Plowden, and clld ^Vdo tSr"" ' ~"" "^^ ""■"s' it was a joke-but it had t. ''°"- °''' ^ ^now Now I warn to ^Tyon^tflTiZT'' '"^' '" ■-• Pany, a very small and particular V """ther Corn- decide to form it, I say-ionM T ^"""P^''^-'^ ^ »houW to join «., Boa d ? Of CO " iT',d° '?" '""^ ''^'^ ^°" mean is-well, I guess von kn„ ■^""''^/^k-but what I The metaphor Ld iemecMoT-"''" ^ "'^^"•" satisfactory vehicle Vrh,, ' ' ""''* "'K^'"™' «"d down und^r ^ullm 'Z^ZT:,'^^'! " """^ ''"'^^° could not account for Al »T "^ P°"f"sion which he ascendancy had mdted awav T ^" ''"^ "' P''>'^'<^^' at I,ady CressasTrf^r ''"''>'-*s='ppeared. He looked soinething hSg :„d" ,e,:lr'' '"', ""'^^ '""^ "- then shifted to hf din, .' '" ""^ ^^ ^'^ gl""™ heart fluttered surprisiLlTi'"", '""t"' '^"""'- «- silence which ensuTd ^^ ^" ^"^^^- '»"""g "'e '■ Surely you u.ust have said everything now that you 176 THE MARKET-PLACE Wished to say. ' ' she observed at last. She had been study- ing intently the trodden snow at her feet, and did not even now look up. The constraint of her manner, and a cer- tain pleading hesitation in her words, began at once to restore his self-command. ° " Do not talk of it any further, I beg of you," she went on We-we have been lagging behind unconscion- ably. If you wish to please me. let us hurry forward now. And please !— no more talk at all ! " " But just a word— you 're not angry ? " She shook her head very slightly. "And you do know that I 'm your friend-your solid tvventy-four-carat friend ? " ' After a moment's pause, she made answer, almost in a whisper-" Yes-be my friend-if it amuses you. "-aiid led the way with precipitate steps down the winding road. CHAPTER XIII impression that there were other i^lnl hi u^'' Their uiirle fh^.r . r ? ^^ ^^^^^^ business, -iiieir uncle, they reahzed, must be conoprn^H ;^ i strangely enough, this disturbance of their uncle's Surofr''"""'"'' """ ^» ^PP--' chaTgeTn the attitude of the,r new friends on the floor below This change was, mdeed, more apparent th»n d^f^n^M- Th lad.es were, to the nicest scrutiny, aslindly It affjbk J77 178 THE MARKET-PLACE •^1 lit '1 ^ I as ever, but the sense of comradeship had somehow van- ished Insensibly, the two parties had ceased to have impulses and tastes in common. There were no more tnps together-no more fortuitous luncheons or formal dinners as a group. The young people looked up at the front of the bi^ hotel on this morning of departure, after they had clam bered over the drifts into the snow-bedecked train and opened the window of their compartment. They made sure that they could identify the windows of Miss Mad- den s suite, and that the curtains were drawn aside-but there was no other token of occupancy discernible. They had said good-bye to the two ladies the previous evening of course-It lingered in their minds as a rather perfunt tory ceremony-but this had not prevented their hoping for another farewell glimpse of their friends. No one came to wave a hand from the balcony, however, and the youngsters looked somewhat dubiously at each other as the train moved. Then intuitively they glanced toward their uncle-and perceived that he had his hat pulled over his eyes, and was staring with a kind of moody scowl at the lake opposite. "Fortunately, it is a clear day," said Julia. "We shall see Mont Blanc." Her voice seemed to have a hollow and unnatural sound in her own ears. Neither h-r uncle nor her brother an- swered her. 1 At breakfast, meanwhile, in the apartment toward which the young people had turned their farewell gaze in vain. Miss Madden sipped her coffee thoughtfully while she read a letter spread upon the table beside her "It's as they said," she observed. " You are not al- lowed to drive in the mountains with your own horses We '^HE MARKET-PLACE 179 plied' HSy^^^il'tf^^ "«•"-" ^«^y Cres.age re- noselw'^'r^l^ ^"'^ hurricanes-and aU Lit. I sup pose that IS what the Government wishes to prevent '^ o^^^: twir«s:rwfe;:r-4:;"^ '^^ you hated the whole idea of drivlgle, thelX"" suiZ^:r'' ""^^ ""'' """^ ■- whi.sicar^"„t as malde"d ctr .'^^l'"^,^^- P'^" any better ? " de- ML^M'addrdecTa':"" ^hr„?'^' ^°" '- «■-'^-^.•■ the force of her remarks " T °V '""' '" ^"^^'^'« Don't think th"t r BuHt is i„l- /°" ="°"^-Edith. women. You can't hein it ?f""" '° 'L"" """'^y thines back T . ^ " ^ '° yo'"' Wood to keep surest sL" JouM tTr^eX Zo^:^^ '.^T ^^ immed-ately we find that we can't go. you admitTh^yo^u "But you wanted to go," objected Lady Cressage. I I .1 1 1 80 THE MARKET-PLACE quietly. ■' That was the important thing. What I warned or did not want had nothing to lo wiih the '^^"^'*,^^'^^ <^'°"'^^'J momentarily. ' ■ Those are not the fal.e light. I am every whit as anxious that you should I v^e Td r T ' ''""'"'■ ^°" ■=-" "-* -" enough thiuo- ,n . ' "T*" '""^^--"1 bave I ever done a^y! th.„g to disprove it ? But I never can iind out what you do want-what really will please you ! You never im propose anything ; you never will be entirely frank abou he things I propose. It ^s only by watching you out of the corner of ray eye that I can ever guess whether anv thing IS altogether to your liking or not •• ^ tnem both. That is only another way of saying what you discovered lone airo " sai^ t ^^ r' "'"'& "uat —■•ti.nfT ™'°.s''P' s="n I-ady Cressage, pass vely - tto I am deficient in the enthusiasms. But originallv Ttrr ,' r '"""'°" "'^' ^™ "'■^ enthusiasms lough for two, and that my lack of them would redress the bfl then and from my own point of view, I think so now bi^tv ^ t°r "J"' "'°'^ '° P""'«' « '^='«' '»e respond bilityofdefeiidingitisnotiiiiiie" " Deliglitful ! •■ cried Celia, smiling gayly as she nut down her cup again. " You are the only woman I Ve ever known who was worth arguing with. The mere operation makes me feel as if I wereVing thrlugh ot fo d-or passing the final Jesuit examinatfons. Heaven knows, I would get up arguments with you every dlv or the pure enjoyment of the thing-if I were n't eternalf; afraid of .saying something that would hurt your feelings and then you would n't tell me, but would nurse th^wS THE MARKET-PLACE jg, wistf ;e™::t " --Tt !'^^''°''^'^'y --?". but with a .t,j^teaa.. ^B.;:at.1tTotl?rtot^^^^^^ ice break im Tf ;. , • '^^™-^o"'?. m time to see the acter Stic Russia W ^ '" T'"'"' '' y°" ^«= "-e char- furs Z^TTei^^Vtt^TZ'' '■■^"''- ^'"' '"« the s„ow-it seems to ".*f "" u""^ «^"'°P'"e "^'^ Europe-if ,ou"erc"u R:.^iX : "TH^^'st^ '" It presents itself to me-but tlt^„ t u , ""^ half.Arctic Cimate. and l' ove tl Tort orthtl'"? ",'' zr.r:hat"a'reS:r£5^^^^^^^^ find o,u." Oh 'r-t^w^'L? p;*r ^' "''"■■« '° ^-"" Miss Madde'u^'siJh^d^rJet !'A,rr17H;""t^°d' *' arj.. bhe pouted her lips over the contents of this [;: ',■ f 182 THE MARKET-PLACE missive and raised her eyebrows in token of surprise but ;; It 's from our young friend," she explained, genially - the pamter-boy-Mr. D'Aubigny. It is to remind me of a prom.se he says I made-that when I came to London he should paint my portrait. I don't think I prom,sed anything of the kind-but I suppose that is a tT\ i- ° "^ unfortunate hair. They must have gone by th.s t.me-they were to go very early, weren't Lady Cressage glanced at the clock. " It was 8 do I th,nk--fully half an hour ago." she answerld !i h' a painstaking effect of indifference. " Curious conglomeration "-mused the other. " The boy and girl are so civilized, and their uncle is so rudi- mentary. I 'm afraid they are spoiling him-just as the miss.onar.es spoil the noble savage. They ought to go away and leave him alone. As a barbarian he was rather effect.ve-but they will whitewash him and gild him a.fd make a tanie monstrosity of him. But I suppose it 's in ev.table Having made his fortune, it is the rule that he must set up as a gentleman. We do it more simply i„ Amenca. One generation makes the fortune, and leaves It to the ..ext generation to put on the frills. My father for exan,ple. never altered in the slightest degree the hab,t.s he fonned when he was a poor workman. To the day o h.s death, blessed old man, he remained what he had always been-simple, pious, modest, hard-working k.«dly and thrifty-a model peasant. Nothing evS temp ted him a hair's-breadth out of the path he had been with .t all ! He never dreamed of suggesting that I should walk in the same path. From my earuL cw'd i. T- ™- *-«..<,*„, , _^^^ 'WAVK vou ,.„oK,„ ,vn> ,MS KVES--/1V. /V^7. 1^%^ b^t H THE MARKET-PLACE 183 hood I cannot remember his ever putting 1 limitation upon me that was n't entirely sensible and generous. I must have been an extremely trying daughter, but he never said so ; he never looked or acted as if he thought so-— But I never stop when I begin talking of my father." "It 's always very sweet to me to hear you talk of him, ' ' Lady Cressage put in. ' ' One knows so few people who feel that way about their fathers ! " Celia nodded gravely, as if in benevolent comment upon something that had been left unsaid. The sight of the young artist's note recalled her earlier subject. " Of course there is a certain difference," she went on, care- lessly,—" this Mr. Thorpe is not at all a peasant, as the phrase goes. He strikes one, sometimes, as having been educated." " Oh, he was at a public school, Lord Plowden tells me, ' ' said the other, with interest. ' ' And his people were booksellers— somewhere in London— so that he got a good smattering of literature and all that. He certainly has more right to set up as a gentleman than nine out of ten of the nouveaux riches one sees flaunting about nowadays. And he can talk very well indeed— in a direct, practical sort of way. I don't quite follow you about his niece and nephew spoiling him. Of course one can see that they have had a great effect upon him. He sees it himself— and he 's very proud of it. He told me so, quite frankly. But why should n't it be a nice effect ? " " Oh, I don't know," Celia replied, idly. " It seemed to me that he was the kind of piratical buccaneer who ought n't to be shaved and polished and taught drawing-, room tricks— I feel that merely in the interest of the fit- ness of things. Have you looked into his eyes— I mean when they 've got that lack-lustre expression ? You can See a hundred thousand dead men in them." 1 84 THE MARKET-PLACE H " I know the look you mean," said I,ady Cressage in a low voice. * " Not that I assume he is going to kill anybody " pur- sued Miss Madden, with ostensible indifference but fixing a glance of aroused attention upon her companion's face or that he has any criminal intentions whatever He behaves very civilly indeed, and apparently his niece and nephew idolize him. He seems to be the soul of kindness to them It may be that I 'm altogether wrong about him-only I know I had the instinct of alarm when I caught that sort of dull glaze in his eye. I met an African explorer a year ago, or so, about whose expeditions dark stories were told, and he had precisely that kind of eye Perhaps it was this that put it into my head-but I have a feeling that this Thorpe is an exceptional sort of man who would have the capacity in him for terrible things' If the necessity arose for them." ' "I see what you mean," the other repeated She toyed with the bread-crumbs about her plate, and reflect- ively watched their manipulation into squares and tri- angles as she went on. "But may that not be merely the visible sign of an exceptionally strong and masterful char- acter ? And is n't it, after all, the result of circumstances whether such a character makes, as you put it, a hundred thousand dead men, or enriches a hundred thousand lives mstead ? We agree, let us say, that this Mr. Thorpe im- presses us both as a powerful sort of personality The question arises, How will he use his power ? On that point, we look for evidence. You see a dull glaze in his eye, and you draw hostile conclusions from it. I reply that It may mean no more than that he is sleepy But on the other hand, I bring proofs that are actively in his favour. He is, as you say, idolized by the only two members of hi«s famiKr fi,of „r« i J ^,^„^ „^ ^^^.^ ^^jj^ — persoDSj more- THE MARKET-PLACE 185 over, who have been brought up in ways different to his own, and who would not start, therefore, with prejudices m his favour. Beyond that. I know of two cases in which he has behaved, or rather undertaken to behave, with really lavish generosity-and in neither case was there any claim upon him of a substantial nature. He seems i v?^'^" ' "^""'^^ ^°'' "'"'^^ disposed to share his fortune with Tom. Dick, and Harry-anybody who excites his sympathy or gets into his affections." Having said this much, Lady Cressage swept the crumbs aside and looked up. So now," she added, with a flushed smile " since you love arguments so much, how do you answer that ? " Ceha smiled back. " Oh. I don't answer it at all." she said, and her voice carried a kind of quizzical implication Your proofs overwhelm me. I know nothing of him— and you know so much ! " Lady Cressage regarded her companion with a novel earnestness and directness of gaze. « ' I had a long, long talk with him-the afternoon we came down from Glion ' ' Miss Madden rose, and going to the mantel lighted a cigarette. She did not return to the table, but after a brief pause came and took an easy-chair beside her friend who turned to face her. " My dear Edith," she said' wi h gravity. '< I think you want to tell me about thai talk-and so I beg you to do so. But if I 'm mistaken- why then I beg you to do nothing of the kind " The other threw out her hands with a gesture of wearied impatience, and then clasped them upon her knee " I seem not to know what I want ! What is the good of talk- ing about it ? What is the good of anything ? ' ' "Now-now!" Celia's assumption of a monitor's tone had reference, apparently, to something understood between the two, for Lady Cressage even summoned the ghost of a smile. H^»IVi«« era rickV^^t'r^^ *._ ii. 1 c,-' •j%.iviicu lu ii, ana It''! ■it! i 'f 1 86 THE MARKET-PLACE _ There is really nothing to tell, ' ' she faltered, hesitat- ingly—" that is, nothing happened. I don't know how to say it-the talk left my mind in a whirl. I could n't tell you why. It was no particular thing that was said- it seemed to be more the things that I thought of while something else was being talked about-but the whole expenence made a most tremendous impression upon me I ve tried to siraighten it out in my own mind, but I can make nothing of it. That is what disturbs me, Celia No man has ever confused me in this silly fashion before Nothing could be more idiotic. I 'm supposed to hold my own in conversation with people of-well, with people of a certain intellectual rank, -but this man, who is of hardly any intellectual tank at all, and who rambled on without any special aim that one could see— he reduce' my brain to a sort of porridge. I said the most extraor- dmary things to him-babbling rubbish which a school- girl would be ashamed of How is that to be accounted for ? I try to reason it out, but I can't. Can you > " 'I Nerves," said Miss Madden, judicially. ' ' Oh, that is meaningless, ' ' the other declared. ' ' Any- body can say ' nerves.' Of course, all human thou-ht and action is * nerves.' " "^ " But yours is a special case of nerves," Celia pursued with gentle imperturbability. " I think I can make my meaning clear to you-though the parallel is n't precisely an elegant one. The finest thorough-bred dog in the world, if it is beaten viciously and cowed in its youth will always have a latent taint of nervousness, apprehen- sion, timidity-call it what you like. Well, it seems to me there 's something like that in your case, Edith. They hurt you too cruelly, poor girl. I won't say it broke your nerve— but it made a flaw in it. Just as a soldier's old wound aches wfipn fTioro 'o o o4-«— « -•„ 4.1.- • —.^1,. ,:, a. oiwini m mc air — so your • 1 ia*-i.r 1 !«*• tl THE MARKET-PLACE 187 "oltr.' ''^T" '"" "P'^'^ y"" ""''^>- <=-^'^in psycho- of me, whatevlr U is." """^ "^"^ "^""■'^ °« ficient in ;.„ ^' """"^^ ""^^ ^ "Sht to be so de- ficient in courage as you allow yourself to be." But I m not a coward," the other protested •■ t could be as brave as anybody-as brave as you at-if - chanceweregiven me. Butofwhatuseisbravery "lain " a wall twenty feet high? I can't get overU I onTv SCtghlfloT- "-:X^??:rs^r:rrm r-f^'i t^-^sS saT ™!r"-°- «»itationT-lf it co^LT: n her tone " wl ' "n' °f. »■"?«--"="« impatience ' . : '°"f • We are all ridiculous together-from th,. • I ihtrtt ^'^ ,• t '^ ^' ^"'P'y a° abstraction as the Liberty Equality, Fraternity' that the French put on heir public buildings. I used to have the most wonder IrZr °T "■"" ■■"dependence would mean. I ZigM mo ey a™d m^" ''"'"'^'j "^ *""' "-'-' -'^ "y' money and my courage and my free mind, I would do aSe rr * "" '"^"'^""'- ^"' «^»^ "■e'os. I wai er Even'thT'T' '""•' ^"^"^ "' ' German you were^r J,'!Lf '^.^ T ^^'^ '^ '-e. And if monev-ww l-i""" ''"""--" you had any amount of money-what difference do you think it would make to t<^ ',h 188 THE MARKET-PLACE dTLT!"' ■=°''" ^°" ^° "•=" y- d-'t do, or could n't Miss Madden's large, handsome, clear-hued face h.Hf to the connection n Z • . ^^ °^''^' ^''^ ^'"^^^ cirrpH f^ .t- ' ^^ °^" mind— and it had n't oc- curred to me that you were doing so in yours." " rl t"" "f ' ^^^^^P°«^d I^ady Cressage. Then I understand you less than ever. Why do von talk about an * interval ' ? wrh^i- ^u , ^ ^^^ •oasis' «c,-ffi, ; ^^^^ was the other word ?- as hey ^y ,„ America. I wanted a companion • sH'd woman Th=,H ""' ""^ "o^' t'^='"«f«l young woman I had ever seen, and you were talenf^H J^ seemed tn i;to ™= j -r were idiented, and you that only too clearly." You re not happy, i see -'".eotlTdeiprdrn^r^" and a bore to you," broke What it is that is worrying you. '^Zti wTdfXd t^ could n't th a thin :e, habit- )mposure why you but with •ut limits i n't oc- T do you vord ? — ts and a er forth •f mine, issues, ' so did rrange- atter I young nd you would 3— and I see broke nt on. 't de- better er on ed to THE MARKET-PLACE jg 'c^Ztrbir^X'^u^e'rv"'^ -" "^- - that score, I had honed th J, ^"^ "' P^^^^y. Upon -ay. I think you attach mo ''°'"' """* ^"^ ^^^^ As I those who have tested -S? ■"'P°rt^»« to money than that 's neither he rloVtherv ™."^ ^^"^ '°-'"" on ^600 a year-and that i^' \ ^"' '"" ^et on well have less than twke that "1 T^''; ^°" ^"^^^ "^^^^ gether or not-anrit onTht" ^te 't'h "^ ^'^^'^ '°- amount, that does n>t matter ^^ ""^^ "»« " You don't seem to realize Edith >■ i, increased animation-" that vn,7 ~^^^ ^^''- W'th are the possession that I am T f ^ "^ "^^P""^^- You There is nothing eli that aDoLT, " °^ """ ^"""l^^' <>f as much as you do since fbe^' '° "'^^ '^ '^'"'dreah part real satisfaction I have h J .. ^•""''P""'"""' «>« ""e for you-to have you with '" ^'"^ '"^ '" ''° '""^^ the best that the worlT can off"" ^^^ ^°" '""^ ^" you remain uuhapr "hv th! ^""^ '^ "■'"• " «" what to do." ^^' ^ "'^° y°" =«e I don't know had ritn, tr;;;Jh'"^:;ir"^''^.'''y •' - ^^^y Cressage the room, ■■ i "t^^^'^',^ ^^ ^^ began now to pafe tnow it well enough rBno>- '°'° "'^ '^"^^-I We of unde^tandifg it as tout'~'7'^~' '" ^= '"^^P''" possessed by devils! t» IT ^^ " ""'' ^e that I am »ent. Perhaps "ieit'^n '^"^"^ !" *"« ^^^ ^esta- them out. I donTsZ Tm ?"! ^ °°^ '''"' <^^" oast ™le myself at all It ne"ds"!t - ""^*'^- ' "=^"'' " Ah ! " said r»i; !f «rength I have n't got 1 " tenceswhich^EdithtSe^'o^SS Id"^ '^"''^ -- appeared, upon examinaTiouM . ""^'' "' ^'"^ ™:«d •• My dear child " she At '^ k "'^'" " ^"S&«-aon. sii,,™ .. ., °' 'he asked abruDtlv. oft.r „ »-"ce, do you want to marry ? " ' " '"""' " ■"""="' s 1" ' if; t TQO THE MARKET-PLACE Udy Crv:ssagc paused at the mantel, and exchanged a long steadfast glui.ce with her friend. Then she came ■toWly forward. " Ah, that is what 1 don't know." she answered. Apparently the reply was candid , *^T,^^,^f"*" P"^^^^ ^^' ^ips. and frowned a little in thought / hen, at some passing reftr tion, she smiled in a puzzled la.lu.an. At last she also rose, and went to the mantel for another cigarette. " Now I am going to talk plainly, she said, with decision. " Since the subject is mentioned, less harm will be done by speaking out than by keeping still. There is a debate in your mind on the matter, is n't there ? " The other lady. tall, slender, gently ruminative once more, stood at the window and with bowed head looked down at the lake. " Yes-I suppose it might be called that, she replied, m a low voice. ''And you hesitate to tell me about it? You would rather not?" Celia. after an instant's pause, went on without waiting for an answer. " I beg that you won't assume my hostility to the idea. Edith. In fact I 'm not sure I don't think it would be the be., thing for you to do. Marnage, a home, children-these are great things to a woman. We can say that she pays the price of bond- age for them-but to know what that signifies, we must ask what her freedom has been worth to her " «'ww'',^ interposed the other, from the window. What have I done with my freedom that has been worthwhile?" "Not much," murmured Celia. under her breath bhe moved forward, and stood beside Edith, with an^ arm round her waist. They lookea together at thr. "It is Lord Plowden. is it not ? " asked the American as the silence grew constrained. * , ; hanged a she came ow," she little in smiled in nt to the g to talk ubject is out than d on the ive once i looked )e called 11 would vent on u won't 'm not you to things >f bond- ve must dndow. LS been breath. , with at thr erican, THE MARKET-iLACE iq, you know." -ne wants to marry you, " Uave that out of consideration " said Cei;. .. posedly. " He has never said «;n V .if^ , ' ''°"'" his moth- s iden fLT^ r ^ *^^"^ '^ ^^^ more Ha.W tH. .ou and he .J-Zfr^nTj/^^^ "He must marry money," the other reolied r„ unexpected burst of candour she went on "H. L ^S have asked me to marry him if I had Cmonev ?hf IS no harm in tellin? vm- fi,of t. money. There -oh. two years to AnH t .. tT ^^^'^ ^^^erstood mon^y-then '' ^ '^"'^ ^ ^^'^^^ ^ ^^^ the " And you don't wish it now ? " A slight shake of Edith's small, shapely head .erv.H for answer. Aftpr a 1,-ffi-, u \ '*^'=^>^ ^^aa served " W. ,-c • , "^^' ^^^ •''poke in a musinff tone • I .trthT.\\tTd =i^tr sf ^- so^aiiy. Of course, hut-there is nVrreer! ^afn'S ; ^^A Viscount has future enough behind him." observed •■ Hel'^rf ' *""'=' '"^■" *^^ o'l'^'- repeated vasuelv het drvr;p!:i .tZ' n'='°^ ^''^ ^" "^^'-^^ be capa-oie of theSdr'^Hl T'"' «n:otions-nor -lanced, too mu"h trgentfem^n Vhr'' '~ ™"- badly-butdoyouseewhrimri'. '' '"^""" " Ceha turned, and studied the beautifi.I pr„fi,. u.,:., ter. ma steady, comprehending look. '" V' i! 192 THE MARKET-PLACE mean !■■ sheexcbimed ,Ln , ''"'''' "'y'""" "'"" I ■• I don. know !-rdo';.tro;";?'^' '' ^•■^ "'°^«' -'■y- said, with f from her 2lf what I >ved away. CHAPTER XIV ON the last day of February Mrs Dnhn^ prised if not exhilamf^H k .-"^f^wey was sur- children i„ the little bootsh^^^^^ '' ' "^^" '^^"^ ^^ ^- t.ou^:;^r.d V t^jr ;r^^;^ tation-a„d for comment they "li eh,' Z'^''"-;" ^^^^"- narrovv alley of shelves in fh ^ ""'^ •'^^'"^ ^''^ ^^^^ spectacle it'was i^t ^tfa STl-.f^r^- ^ ^^"^"'>^ the discredited rem.nn sof 1 f , '^^"^"'- ^^''"^''^^^ broken up. but cou" and again a passer-by mc^U^^^Cv "'• ' "'^' """ beneath an umbrelh or hi t r '^'"' ''^'^''^' '''^^^^^ turned-up col ar t thf 1 ""'' "^'^^' ^^"'^ ^"^'^^ '" stamped his feet n,H s n ^^^PJ^^^^'. «"tside the sulky boy Pantlinuc :nm .^^g^^Xt'f r "'' ^"^ ^^'"^ '» stalls' dripping covers f 11 '''^^^^^"^^^^'"S the book- enough to ^pl,^::^!^!^ ^^^^^^^^^ '"-'' '^ -^ the book^' Lki";: nle '' T' •? ^^'^ *^^ ^°>' ^^^ i" was attracted b/ i g ;,ef ' .f^^^'^-; .^'-- -gue gaze it seems ridicufous tf osTup StH, 'r "'' '''''' ''''- conifortable upstairs—^ ^' ' '^ ^'°" '^ ^^ "^"^^ "Why, mamma! Theideaof moi,;. ^ protested Julia She. rn . , "^ strangers of us. " •3' '-5"^^i. i he paiiid flicker "" «93 of the gas- 194 THE MARKET-PLACE f^/ 4 jet overhead made her long, listless face seem more devoid of colour than ever. " But you are as good as strangers, are n't you ? " she observed, coldly. " You 've been back in town ten days and more, and I 've scarcely laid eyes upon either of you. But don't you want to sit down ? You can put those parcels on the floor anywhere. Or shall I do it for you ? " Alfred had been lounging in the shadowed corner against a heap of old magazines tied in bundles. He sprang up now and cleared the chair, but his sister de- clined it with a gesture. Her small figure had straight- ened itself into a kind of haughty rigidity. "There has been so much to do, mamma," she ex- plained, in a clear, cool voice. * * We have had hundreds of things to buy and to arrange about. All the responsi- bility for the housekeeping rests upon me — and Alfred has his studio to do. But of course we should have looked in upon you sooner — and much oftener — if we had thought you wanted us. But really, when we came to you, the very day after our return, it was impossible for us to pre- tend that you were glad to see us. ' ' " Oh, I was glad enough," Mrs. Dabney made answer, mechanically. " Why should n't I be glad ? And why should you think I was n't glad ? Did you expect me to shout and dance ? " " But you said you would n't come to see us in Oving- ton Square," Alfred reminded her. •' That 's different," she declared. " What would I be doing in Ovington Square ? It 's all right for you to be there. I hope you '11 be happy there. But it would n't add anything to your happiness to have me there ; it would be quite the other way about. I know that, if you don't. This is my place, here, and I intend to stick to it!" re devoid m?" she ten days tr of you. Dut those )r you ? ' ' d corner lies. He sister de- straight- ' she ex- hundreds responsi- Llfred has looked in I thought you, the us to pre- e answer, A.nd why ect me to in Oving- would I )r you to wouldn't there ; it at, if you > stick to THE MARKET-PLACE 195 maternal countenance, hardened beyond their wont You talk as if there had been some class war declared "' nnHt%; ^^'^°^^^"f annoyance. "You know that Uncle Stormont would like nothing better than to be as nice to you as he is to us. " "Uncle Stormont ! " Mrs. Dabney's repetition of the words was surcharged with hostile sarcasm ' ^^t bis name was Stormont as much as it was Joel " broke in Alfred, from his dark corner. ' ' He has a perfect right to use the one he likes best. " ^ '• Oh, I don't dispute his right. " she replied, once more in her passionless monotone. ' ' Everybody can call them- selves whatever they please. It 's no affair of mine You and your sister spell your father's name in a way to suit yourselves : I never interfered, did I ? You have your own Ideas and your own tastes. They are quite beyond aTaTl W^Vf ''' "^'^ '°^ ^^"- ' ^-^'^ -^^-'- t'hem at all. U hat I say is that it is a great mercy your uncle came along, with his pockets full of money to enable you to make the most of them. If I were religious I should call that providential. " s "^ x snouia " And that 's what xve do call it," put in Tulia with vivacity. " And why should you shut your doors "gll' this Providence, mamma ? Just think of it ! We don't insist upon your coming to live at Ovington Square at ail. at least for the present. But when Uncle St-when uncle says here s more than enough money for us all, and is only too anxious for you to let him do things for you- why he s your own brother ! It 's as if I should refuse to allow Alfred to do things for me." "That you never did." int^rt^r^co^ 4.u gayly. I llsaythat oryou, Jule." am m 196 THE MARKET-PLACE " And never will," she assured him, with cheerful de- cision. ' ' But no — mamma — can' t you see what we mean ? We have done what you wanted us to do. You sent us both to much better schools than you could afford, from the time we were of no age at all — and when uncle's money came you sent us to Cheltenham. We did you no discredit. We worked very well ; we behaved ourselves properly. We came back to you at last with fair reason to suppose that you would be — I won't say proud, but at least well satisfied with us — and then it turned out that you did n't like us at all." " I never said anything of the sort," the mother de- clared, with a touch of animation. "Oh no — you never said it," Julia admitted, "but what else can we think you mean ? Our uncle sends for us to go abroad with him, and you busy yourself getting me read}', and having new frocks made and all that — and I never hear a suggestion that you don't want me to go " " But I did want you to go," Mrs. Dabney affirmed. " Well, then, when I come back — when we come back, and tell you what splendid and generous plans uncle has made for us, and how he has taken a beautiful furnished house Lud made it our home, and so on, — why, you won't even come and look at the house ! " " But I don't want to see it," the mother retorted, ob- stinately. " UVll, then, you need n't ! " said Alfred, rising. " No- body will ask you again." " Oh yes they will," urged Julia, glancing meaningly from one to the other. All her life, as it seemed, she had been accustomed to mediate between these two unpliable and stubborn temperaments. From her earliest childhood she bad audcistood, somchow, that there was a Dabuey THE MARKET-PLACE 19; habit of mind. which was by comparison soft and if not yieldmg then politic : and set over against it there was a Thorpe temper full of gnarled and twisted hardnesses, and teiiacious as deatli. I„ the days of her grandfather Thorpe whom she remembered with an alarmed distinctness, there bad existed a kind of tacit idea tliat his name alone ac- counted for and justified the most persistent and stormv bad temper. That old man with the scowling brows bul- evervbn? ';• "''"^Tf ^^^^^^ody, apparently disliked everybody, vehemently demanded his own will of everv- body-and it was all to be explained, seemingly, by the fact that he was a Thorpe. s J'. "^ ine .,^l^\^'lf^pP^'^^^<^^ from the scene-unlamented, to the bes of Julia's juvenile perceptions-there had been relatively peaceful times in the book-shop and the home overhead, yet there had existed always a recognized line of demarcation running through the household. Julia and her father-a small, hollow-chested, round-shouldered young man, with a pale, anxious face and ingratiating manner, who had entered the shop as an assistant, and remained as a son-.n-law, and was now the thinnest of un- substantial memories-Julia and this father had stood upon one side of this impalpable line as Dabneys, other- wise as meek and tractable persons, who would not expect to have their own way. ^ Alfred and his mother were Thorpes-that is to say people who necessarily had their own way. Their domi^ nation was stained by nont of the excesses which had rendered the grandfather intolerable. Their surface temper was in truth almost sluggishly pacific. Under- neath, hovyever, ugly currents and sharp rocks were well sionTr?. Tk ^''"""^ existence-..d it was the mis- sion of thr. Dabneys to see that no wind o*" — --^-« unduly stirred these depths. Worse even thanThe^^s' 198 tHt: MARKfiT-fLACfi i! sibilities of violence, however, so far as every-day life was concerned, was the strain of obstinacy which belonged to the Thorpe temper. A sort of passive mulishness it was, impervious to argument, immovable under the most sym- pathetic pressure, which particularly tried the Dabney patience. It seemed to Julia now, as she interposed her soothing influence between these jarring forces, that she had spent whole years of her hfe in personal interventions of this sort. "Oh yes they will," she repeated, and warned her brother into the background with a gesture half-pleading, half-peremptory. ' ' We are your children, and we 're not bad or undutiful children at all, and I 'm sure that when you think it all over, mamma, you '11 see that it would be absurd to let anything come between you and us." " How could I help letting it come ? " demanded the mother, listlessly argumentative. " You had outgrown me and my ways altogether. It was nonsense to suppose that you would have been satisfied to come back and live here again, over the shop. I could n't think for the life of me what I was going to do with you. But now your uncle has taken all that into his own hands. He can give you the kind of home that goes with your education and your ideas— and what more do you want ? Why should you come bothering me ? " " How unjust you are, mamma ! " cried Julia, with a glaze of tears upon her bright glance. The widow took her elbow from the desk, and, slowly straightening herself, looked down upon her daughter. Her long plain face, habitually grave in expression, con- veyed no hint of exceptional emotion, but the fingers of the large, capable hands she clasped before her writhed restlessly against one another, and there was a husky- threat of collapse in her voice as .-he spoke : THE MARKET-PLACE <( 199 ^^ If you ever have children of your own," she said. they if thinlTn ^'"', '''' ^"' ^^ '""^ ^^^^ "P - ^ha they 11 think themselves your betters, and they act ac- ^tlHor'^rr '" ;^"'^^^^^"^- ^^tyoudon'tund . Ibout t 7n 'V' "' ^°°' ""^ ^^^^^"^ -y «^-e feen t > T '" ''^'""^'"'' ^' '^ convenient-and you feel like it I must go back to my books now." upon the blotter. Her children, surveying her blankly found speech difficult. With some murmured words afte; Lrlin ^^^'^' f ? ^'''°^"^ ^ perfunctory kiss upon her unresponsive cheek, and filed out into the rain mo^e'off''^^r'7'''5f '^'"^ P^' "P ^^^^^ ^^"^b^^"-' -"i:r;rcrL^^wt::;jyrr::ir come upstairs ? " wouia you rather ovl'rrerofberor^rd^s^ «,'--'»^ ^ >eg weU a hedM ,r'" '" 'j" "'" ^^™ "^^ brother look so «"^r the y rg:sTht"'H""?''''"''.^ "P"" "'^ ^""" face had -ehorcet'd\ot ^tn'^r^^^^^^ ralter-w i^h^^rtl-"-- - o^ He L with a clear, bold eye, in which, df gl»s of sood-humour, she discerned a "new authority ■f 202 tHE MARKET-PLACE The nervous and apprehensive lines had somehow van- shed from the countenance, and with them, oddly enough that ethargic, heavy expression which had been their no7 ^?r'. ^'7'' "" ^^^°"^' ^^^^^"^^«' confidence, now. She deemed him almost handsome, this curious changeable brother of hers, as he beat with his fist in a measured way upon the desk-top to emphasize his words, and fastened his commanding gaze upon her. We took very nearly twenty thousand pounds to- day, he went on. " This is the twenty-eighth of Feb- ruary. A fortnight ago today was the first settlement I was n t here, but Semple was-and the working of it is all in his hands. He kept as still as a mouse that first Tl' .; ^^ *"" '^^^^''^'' *° "^ 2^'°°° scares, and they had n t got one, but we did n't make any fuss. The point was, you see, not to let them dream that they were p7 Thl 'w'; "^^ '^' "'^ ^^^" p^^ ^^^ p^-'-p to par. They had to come to Semple, and say there did n't seem to be any shares obtainable just at the moment, aH what would he carry them over at ? That means, to let them postpone delivery for another fortnight. He was as rr'tm tor'". "^'^ ''^™' ^"' ^^^^^^ ^« --^ them over till today without any charge at all. But today it was a httle different. The price was up ten shmin4 above par. That is to say. Semple arranged with a job- ber, on the quiet, d' ye see ? to offer thirty shillings for r.r'?T' "''T'' ^^'' "^^^ fi-^^ the making-up pnce. So then, when they were still without shares to- shni\wt ^4''' ' '"'""'^ ""^"^ "^"^°' '^^y ^'^ to pay ten nb I .vf /^"""r" '""^ of twenty-six thousand shares, p us the difference between par and the prices they 'd sold at. That makes within a few hundreds of / o ooo in cash, for one day's haul. D' ye see ? " She nodded at him, expressively. Through previous The market-place 2d3 cared to confess °''' *"" *" ™"'d have new sum they have tfr "f^'V"" "'^' =^"'^= «>« ' ""^y "ave to pay us in differenpps Tf ;„ <■„ to say what that price shall be We 'n h -J ■ "' when the time come, w„ i ^ . ^'""^^ °° ""^t up another tusWlingT^r f:r' "■•'^"^' ""' " ^.3,00.. It 's best i?fte lontrfn I'V"' ' "'"""' slow, with small rises like th^t ;„ ^ '''"''"• '" ^o anybody, so SempCs! ^f "r^ ^.^ "" '" ^'^'''- But why not frighten them ? " Louisa asked •■ T ttt fdt'rxr " ''^''"° "^"- ^- "--" - sin^e'C"'" ^^L :: ' ^ '^"-d --^ new wrinkles through ;ith^hem?ur fr'""^"""^"' "^fo- -^ •- If they goTword that tW ' ''"" "" J"^' S° ^^-^V- a -^ead^-e~ tU'^:^c"Tt;:'^^;'e\^^^^^^^^^ would be a uutute PrlL't? °";'' "^^^ '" "'■■^•' '"at ate some few shares so tW L °"''^ ^"''='" "''^^- dealinir, V.IIV ""^"^^ "^y ^^ some actual ^wf;j;her^fp:r:~^^^^^^ .h.m ui, ana onug them straight to Semple, to get'fiS THE MARKET-PLACE from the fortnightly tax we are levying on them In th»t way we shaH eventually let out say hflf of ?h™e fourteen shorts, or perhaps more than half ' ■ raurteen " What do you want to do that for ? •' The sister', X t!hitg therii^yre™^"" ' ^"^ -"■' -" asked too. It seemed to me the most natural thine when you 'd got 'em in the vise, to keep them there But Ihen TreTin him'^K^™ ^^"'' ^" '"""^ ™' "^ ^ "- eo bank L^ iL''°T''' "'•" ""> '''«•''> ""^ -^^^ always go bankrupt-and then he 's out of your reach altogether and you lose everything that yon counted on mak^g oW of him So, after a certain point, each one of the fourteen .nen whom we 're squeezing must be dealt wi h o„ a plddoct "■ ^ *'P'''^ ^^'* ''°''^ '» «"« H,r ^°"/^^' 'T^ "^ "'^'" '^^ ^'an'i a loss of a hundred anS IllTf' 't" '"^^ ""'""-"' lo-ten th^ sand All that we have to know. We can take it as a wan Wen '^"^' ""'''' "" '^ P'-^^^^'' tight to the i^all. Well, our business is to learn how far each fellow .3 from the wall to start with. Then we keep tract o7 h.m one turn of the screw after another, till we see he 's got JUS enough left to buy hiiself out. Then we 'U le nim out. See ? " ^u wc u xei " It 's cruel, is n't it ? " she commented, calmly medi- tative, after a little pause ^ ^ a Heht'tore""'"^ a'i,'"'' ""^'T '' ^^"^^'" ^^ '^'^'^^ ^-r with a hght tone. All speculative business is cruel Take our case, for example. I estimate in a rough way that THE MARKET-PLACE ,q- pou„ds-„aybe" i,ttu„d ^ -ven hundred thousand those fellows ever earLd» 7 ,• "' ""'"'■ ■'°' ""^ °l They Ve takertre Xe :f'^^r""^r'*^'-"°'"^>-- others took it from othetstfll /h" °"'"'' ^"-^ "^^^« nitely. There is „'f T! ' "^ ^° °" ^'"n"^' ""defi- through tweny h I'd: or^ff" 1" ''" "^'^ "''"-" last man who had don'e Li^u"'" '"^'^"' ^'"'^^ the company with it Zl °"'" """^"^ ^"^ " P^'-d thos^whoHinpossIS"-""?'^ "^^ """ °^'-g^ '» strong enough to hoMTfoi "' When" '""^ " '"^^ "^ still comes along, h- °"Zlt ,^'''"/°°'^°«^ Wronger don't complain ■thevrinn.r . ^ '^'"" "'^'°- They know it .s'the rule [thTgaS ' Tht^ '' '^ ""^'- '^''^^ gin at once looking out forT' ^ ""'^P' "-^""^ ^^- lings to recoup themX 1 Th^: ."'"'^ '"' "^^'^■ goes." "veson. That s the way the City ruI-rrve'st^^st^Astf "T"''^^' ^^»-''-">' fell to studying Us owntn/ "f "^ ""° '''^°<=^ "°»'. he He stretched out tiefin^er^ °" '"f f*"'"? "^''-'^ Wm. grees, then closed them !?', '7'" ""=" '" <''*^^n' de- looking fiststu Xlsptt,^:'!"™'^ '"•"^^ ''-''- " That 's the kind of hTnd hr/"''""^ ''^'''■ fully, "that breaks the Jew 'in tLT'"'^''"' ""'"«'"■ only grit enough behind {t r ! ^^ ™"' ■"■ t''"^ '^ hands, a year fgo «l^e,t „ ^ "'^i" '° ™"^'> those Jews- They ■re'^all thTn an d wirTan'TuVo"/ "-"'"^ L'^"' fingers are never «;H-li • ft, I °^ ^^^"S- Their Ii4a lobsterTf et • B^t tl" """' ^"^ ''^^P ^"-"=- in 'em. They eet hL f ^"" ^"^ ''^^l >"«ngth ing, because thf; 're etelSr °'"?' "^"'^^ *"' ^^ ?- h.iii-i- -•,- » ^ ^ ™ eternally on the move u ., .i,*;, '"^" '''""stry and activity that gives themsuch a'puTl^ I :fn ' 206 THE MARKET-PLACE and makes most people afraid of them. But when a hand like that takes them by the throat "-he held up his ri^ht band as he spoke, with the thick uncouth fingers and massive thumb arched menacingly in a powerful muscular tension- when that tightens round their neck, and they teel that the grip means business-my God ! what good are they ? " ^ He laughed contemptuously, and slapped the relaxed palm on the desk with a noise which made his sister start Apparently the diversion recalled something to her mind.' Ihere was a man in here asking about you today " she remarked, in a casual fashion. " Said he was an old friend of yours." " Oh. yes, everybody 's my ' old friend ' now." he ob- served with beaming indifference. "I'm already getting heaps of invitations to dinners and dances and all that One fellow insisted on booking me for Easter for some salmon fishing he 's got way down in Cumberland. I told him I could n't come, but he put my name down all the same. Says his wife will write to remind me. Damn his wife ! Semple tells me that when our squeeze really be- gins and they realize the desperate kind of trap they 're in, they '11 simply shower attentions of that sort on me He says the social pressure they can command, for a game of this kind, is something tremendous. But I 'm not to be taken in by it for a single pennyworth, d' ye see ? I dine with nobody ! I fish and shoot and go yachting with nobody ! Julia and Alfred and our own home in Ovington Square-that 'II be good enough for me. By the way-you have n't been out to see us yet We re all settled now. You must come at once-whv not with me, now? " Louisa paid no heed to this suggestion. She had been rummairiiiir uinmio- cotn.^ i«^o« .^ _„ .. . . , • " V - «^i.'av i^apcis uu cue lop oi the THE MARKET-PLACE 207 amof;ti:Vsktcom:,r''.' fdVf; ^^ ^■''^ ^^^^^ with it. He wrote ^Sng oa it " ' ""^ "'•^' ^ '"" Oh, damn him, and his card tno " ^u easily "I don. want to J:LTomt:T ''-'-'^'' deaii^Vtogether" Hf" '" "JT'^' «^ -« ^o" 'd had address." ' '""'"• ^ ^^ "'' 'ell him your suddenly to catci ^"i::zT's:iTz:T"''. holding th d sk ooTo r'rr'"'" ^"^ ■■""■^ ---«, search •• He „a t Mm '"'T'"'^ suspending he thinlc. Heh,'dToLVr"!t '•""'■ fi^-^'-d-fifty, I should membered your telhW h 1 , ^ '''""■• "'"' '"= '•'=- He only got Lk tl r"'"'''™'' ™"' ''""ksellers. before. Hesaid he di^ ,"1 f '^ "" '"^'"''"^ °^ '"e day since you left M'4t He 2"..": '°1'' ''^=" '^""^ yon were in England or not i • "''" '""'" "''^"'" of his sister's head ''V ^^ P°^^' ^"'^^ ^' «"^ «ide her now. withX-e IritTin til'^Iir '.i yr"'" tt ""s'LrSe'srr ™" '" -™^^' "--'^^ """ ^••■■^ T--''"- was u't U r Go;xl'G:d-! Why'Til 208 THE MARKET-PLACE p ;in ,!;' ! a woman never knows where she 's put anything ? Even Julia spends hours looking for button-hooks or corkscrews or something of that sort, every day of her life ! They ' ve got nothing in the world to do except know where things are, right under their nose, and yet that 's just what they don't know at all ! " " Oh, I have a good few other things to do," she re- minded him, as she fumbled again inside the obscurity of the desk. " I can put my hand on any one of four thou- sand books in stock," she mildly boasted over her shoul- der, " and that 's something you never learned to do. And I can tell if a single book is missing— and I would n't trust any shopman I ever knew to do that." "Oh of course, you 're an exception," he admitted, under a sense of justice. " But I wish you 'd find the card." " I know where it is," she suddenly announced, and forthwith closed the desk. Moving off into the remoter recesses of the crowded interior, she returned to the light with the bit of pasteboard in her hand. " I 'd stuck it in the little mirror over the washstand," she explained. He almost snatched it from her, and stood up the better to examine it under the gas-light. ' ' Where is Montague Street ? " he asked, with rough directness. •' In Bloomsbury— alongside the Mu.seum. That 's one Montague Street— I don't know how many others there may be." Thorpe had already taken up his umbrella and was but- toning his coat. " Yes-Bloomsbury," he said hurriedly. That would be his form. And you say he knew nothing about my movements or whereabouts— nothing about the Company, eh > " Ke looked at hi?: watch as he spoke. Evidently the presence of this stranger had excited him a good deal. ing ? Even r corkscrews ! They 've vhere things >t what they do," she re- obscurity of f four thou- r her shoul- rned to do. I wouldn't e admitted, 'd find the )unced, and the remoter to the light 'd stuck it xplained. p the better 5 Montague That 's one thers there THE MARKET-PLACE 209 he'dfd^l '^l "''"'? ^^"'' '^^fl^^^i^ely ' " «o. I 'm sure about Tn. "" ''^"' ^' '^'^' ^' ^°^« '^'t k"°^ his way I sruMl';r-^ -^^' - ->-here else, for that matter^ Thorpe nodded, and put his finger to his forehead with s^oT: '' he't m'; ".^^-'^ '^^ ^'^^^^^ ^ff in the'up; r story, he told her in a confidential tone. " Still it 's Zr/TV^u' i ''°"^' ''' him."-and with only ah ty hand-shake he bustled out of the shop ^ hmi on the pavement, in the pelting rain vehemeutlv signalling with his umbrella for a cab ^^^^meutly id was bt:t- hurriedly. ;w nothing : about the he spoke. :ited him a am w CHAPTER XV E 've got a spare room here, have n't we?" Thorpe asked his niece, when she came out to greet him in the hall of their new home in Ovington Square. He spoke with palpable eagerness before even unbuttoning his clamp great-coat, or putting oflF his hat. " I mean it 's all in working order ready for use ? " " Why yes, uncle," Julia answered, after a moment's thought. " Is someone coming ? " " I think so," he replied, with a grunt of relief. He seemed increasingly pleased with the project he had in mind, as she helped him oflf with his things. The smile he gave her, when she playfully took his arm to lead him into the adjoining library, was clearly but a part of the srtistitid grin with which he was considering some develop- ment in his own affairs. He got into his slippers and into the easy-chair before the bright fire and lit a cigar with a contented air. " Well, my little girl ? " he said, with genial inconse- quence, and smiled again at her, where she stood beside the mantel. " It will be such a lark to play the hostess to a stranger ! " she exclaimed. " When is he coming ?— I suppose it is a ' he,' " she added, less buoyantly. " Oh— that fellow," Thorpe said, as if he had been thinking of something else. " Well— I can't tell just when he will turn up. I only learned he was in town — or in England — a couple of hours ao'o. I have n't seen tio n't we?" :ame out to I Ovington jefore even )ff his hat. 36?" . moment's relief. He he had in The smile :o lead him aart of the le devel op- hair before air. il inconse- ood beside stoss to a 3ming ? — I y- had been t tell just in town — re n't seen THE MARKET-PLACE 2,, ^V^^^} ^'- ^ '■'•"^ ™""'^ '° hi^ lodgings near the Bnush Museum, but he was n't there. He oil—s th re o sleep, but they told me he turned in early-by nme o clock or so. Then I went round to a hotd and and left .t for h>m. I told him to pack up his thine" ^ -?o" thet '°'/''-''"' ""^^ '''''• '^^ »"■'' this his W —lor the time benig at least. " "Then it 's some old friend of yours ? " said the girl I know I shall like him." ^ Thorpe laughed somewhat uneasily. " Well-ves- tj", "^ "i' '"'"" "' """^•" '- -i''. -i'l' a note of von • ^V ■;: " ?'"'■ " ' "O"'' ■'"o-. though. tVa fadies' ma^' ""'^' "' ''^- "^ ^"" ""^ ^- '" call" He laughed again at some thought the words conjured «p. He s a cunous. smiple old party, who 'd ms' Uke ex~e" t?be tT d r"""""^ ^' """^'f' ^"^ -"' " " expect to be talked to or entertained at all Tf h^ ^« come, he '11 keep to himself pretty wei. H 'would ,tb" any company for you. luiean.-foryouorXde be, I tlnnk he 's a Canadian or West Indian.-British st! iect' at all eyents,-but he 's lived all his ui iu thrWe t ,,, i ^7:ft "g "v" T '° '° '" ^ ""w-V-room, t U W, Pass ,^ J°" d better just not pay any attention to Julia's alert "'"l°f'^''y- "f course, but that 'sail." Julias alert, small-featured face expressed some va^ue s;~r ^*^h''? '--''' "" '- ™"^^™- be,t " .1, J ■ „ °^ cou-se-whatever he likes test she sa.d. "I will tell Potter to nuke everything ."t'for diST" """ '"^ "° '^"""^^ "' '^''^ "-« ^- '" Thorpe shook his head, and the,- lifted hi« h.„„. some new perplexuy, " I guess he 'd want "to eat" his 212 THE MARKET-PLACE li 'r ffi i! meals out, anyway," he said, after some thougiit. " I don't seem to remember much about him in that respect — of course, everything was so different in camp out in Mexico — but I daresay he would n't be much of an orna- ment at the table. However, that '11 be all right. He 's as easy to manage as a rabbit. If I told him to eat on the roof, he 'd do it without a murmur. You see it 's this way, Julia : he 's a scientific man — a kind of geologist, and mining expert and rubber expert — and chemical ex- pert and all sort of things. I suppose he must have gone through college — very likely he '11 turn out to have better manners than I was giving him credit for. I 've only seen him in the rough, so to speak. We were n't at all inti- mate then, — but we had dealings together, and there nre certain important reasons why I should keep close in touch with him while he 's here in London. But I '11 try and do that without letting you be bothered." " What an idea ! " cried Julia. "As if that was n't what we had the house for — to see the people you want to see. ' ' Her uncle smiled rather ruefully, and looked in a rather dubious way at his cigar. ' ' Between you and me and the lamp-post, Jule," he said, with a slow, whimsical drawl, " there is n't a fellow in the world that I wanted to see less than I did him. Buv since he 's here — why, we 've got to make the best of it." After dinner, Thorpe suffered the youngsters to go up to the drawing-room in the tacit understanding that he should probably not see them again that night. He be- took himself then once more to the library, as it was called — the little, cozy, dark-panelled room off the hall, where the owner of the house had left two locked book- cases, and where Thorpe himself had installed a writing- desk and a diminutive safe for his papers. The chief mght. " I :hat respect imp out in of an orna- rht. He 's 3 eat on the :e it 's this F geologist, lemical ex- : have gone have better e only seen : at all inti- id there ^re ip close in 3ut I '11 try lat was n't e you want )oked in a r'ou and me whimsical It I wanted lere — why, :rs to go up ing that he It. He be- as it was ff the hall, eked book- a writing- me cmei THE MARKET~PI,ACE t;r twi X r.:dT"'n'' ^''---' -» ^"^-^^^-^ hearth, and"eVZZT '"J"""'" '^'"'^ ""^ tumblers visible behinT he ItL of t1, '''r"''"" '"" the wall. Thorpe himself c^n J ft, '''''""" "S^'"'*' gery,"a„d spen^^ZZmf't']'' '"°"' ^is "snug- smoking and gazins? oo^r f ^ " "''PP"ed comfort, times Julia read to him ?'l'' ""° "'" ^''- Some! the.: h^e .^^iZ^^^:: tollltr " '' ''-'■ ^"' ^nX'^^lr^tloT-' °1' so,„e'whistey and water tract h,m ^He molr^',"" "'""' ^°'"^''™ "id not at- scribed space his handf in r' 'J"""^'^ '" '"= ^"•™™- rounded, his face 1 MM ^T'^'^'"' '"^ ^urly shoulders of donb . Tit sou ,d of'th ' " """ ' '''^P^'^-'"" mittentlv to h s ears oL /'""° "^''''"' "^^"^ ■"ter- room to'hear luhanl^ .' ""'""^"^ '" ""^ "rawing- the doors opeit en ovrd'the-'^n °''T ''"'• """ ^" «-ic here'at his^r^li/e^V™: ^ ' B.u r" "' 'r had no joy in the noisp M„, .t ' tomgm he restlessly round the ■oo„,r °"''' "' '"= ^'°"<^"'=d ■^top suggested it elf hTi, r' k °"°" "'' "^^'"^ ^'^^ to Once he busied hL^ff ?■"'"" '° P"' " '"'" "^tion. -fe, and sen ' ,i' "g1 /^.H I e'" '""""^ "^'"^^ '- bundles it contained ^^P"" '" ""^ "^ the had cc^secTl'thTlf '' "" °''='°'^'^' """ '^' ""^i-^ -hove ana tiro/iher.™:, — t ~-%:r' hX^r?Cd;t"r '"^•^'*"' «^^^^^^^^^^ door of thl roX t coSed'-c.r' 'f'™^" "P™ '"^ ^-sily confident aboutThTt Lit l^'r °'°''^ "''° Quaker-Iookine- " wnc „„f „„ ../^^ , person whom the maid ushered iui: th:?;oi::'[hr:ugh .'hi: 214 THE MARKET-PLACE iSi door. He was a small, thin, elderly man, bowed of figure and shuffling in gait. His coat and large, low-crowned hat, though worn almost to shabbiness, conveyed an in- definable sense of some theological standard, or pretence to such a standard. His meagre face, too, with its in- finity of anxious yet meaningless lines, and its dim spectacled eyes, so plainly overtaxed by the effort to dis- cern anything clearly, might have belonged to any old village priest grown childish and blear-eyed in the soli- tude of stupid books. Even the blotches of tell-tale colour on his long nose were not altogether unclerical in their suggestion. A poor old man he seemed, as he stood blinking in the electric light of the strange, warm apart- ment—a helpless, worn old creature, inured through long years to bleak adverse winds, hoping now for nothing better in this world than present shelter. " How do you do, Mr. Thorpe," he said, after a mo- ment, with nervous formality. " This is unexpectedly kind of you, sir." <' Why— not at all ! " said Thorpe, shaking him cor- dially by the hand. " What have we got houses for, but to put up our old friends ? And how are you, anyway ? You 've brought your belongings, have you ? That 's right ! " He glanced into the hall, to make sure that they were being taken upstairs, and then closed the door. " I suppose you 've dined. Take off your hat and coat ! Make yourself at home. That 's it— take the big chair, t^ere— so ! And now let 's have a look at you. Well, Ta vender, my man, you have n't grown any younger. But I suppose none of us do. And what '11 you have to drink ? I take plain water in mine, but there 's soda if you prefer it. And which shall it be— Irish or Scotch ? " Mr. Ta vender's countenance revealed the extremity of his surprise and confusion at the warmth of this welcome. THE MARKET-PLA^. 215 It apparently awed him as well, for though he shrank into a corner of the huge chair, he painstakingly abstained from resting his head against its back. Uncovered, this head gained a certain dignity of effect from the fashion in which the thm, iron-grey hair, parted in the middle fell away from the fnll. intellectual temples, and curlek in meek locks upon his collar. A vagne resemblance to the tl^l Wesley-or was it Froebel ?-might have hinted Itself to the observer's mind. Thorpe's thoughts, however, were not upon types. Well -he said, from the opposite chair, in his round- !nff ;'I r"'?' ""^^^ '^^ °'^^^ ^^d ^ith diffidence suffered himself to be served, and had deferentially lighted on one side the big cigar pressed upon him-" Well-and now 's the world been using you ? " "Not very handsomely, Mr. Thorpe," the other re- sponded, in a hushed, constrained tore " Oh, chuck the Misters ! " Thorpe bade him. " Are n't we old pals, man? You 're plain Tavender, and I 'm plain Thorpe. " "You 're very kind," murmured Tavender, still abashed. For some minutes he continued to replv dole- fully, and with a kind of shamefaced reluctance to the questions piled upon him. He was in evil luck : nothing had gone well with him ; it had been with the greatest difficulty that he had scraped together enough to get back to London on the chance of obtaining some expert com- mission ; practically he possessed nothing in the world beyond the clothes on his back, and the contents of two old carpet-bags-these admissions, by degrees were wormed from him. ^ ' ^ " But have you parted with the concession, then, that > " you bou.^ht from me Help yourself to some more whiskey ii-tu-ipc suuucniy asked him. :/:t L, aajJUTTrr :i6 THE MAIIKET-PLACE Tavender sighed as he tipped the decanter. " It is n't any good," he answered, sadly. " The Government re- pudiates it — that is, the Central Government at Mexico. Of course, I never blamed you. I bought it with my eyes open, and you sold it in perfect good faith. I never doubted that at all. But it 's hot worth Ihe paper it 's written on— that 's certain. It 's that that busted me — that, and some other things. ' ' " Well— well ! " said Thorpe, blankly. His astonish- ment was obviously genuine, and for a little it kept him silent, while he pondered the novel aspects of the situation thus disclosed. Then his eyes brightened, as a new path outlined itself, "I suppose you 've got the papers? — the concession and my transfer to you and all that ? " he asked, casually. ' ' Oh, yes, ' ' replied Tavender. He added, with a gleam of returning self-command — " That 's all I have got." " Let 's see — what was it you paid me ? — Three thou- sand eight hundred pounds, was n't it ? " Tavender made a calculation in mental arithmetic, " Yes, something like that. Just under nineteen thou- sand dollars," he said. "Well," remarked Thorpe, with slow emphasis, "I won't allow you to suffer that way by me. I '11 buy it back from you at the same price you paid for it." Tavender, beginning to tremble, jerked himself up- right in his chair, and stared through his spectacles at his astounding host. "You say" — he gasped — "you say you '11 buy it back ! " " Certainly," said Thorpe. " That 's what I said." " I — I never heard of such a thing ! " the other faltered with increasing agitation. " No — you can't mean it. It is n't common sense ! " " It 's common decency," replied the big man, in his THE MARKET-PLACE 2i; . IT?" "^ '"^"""'- " ^^ '« ^'^^ ^«^ death to voti -and It doe. n't matter a flea-bite to me. So, since lou came to gnei through me, why should n't I do the fai thing, and put you back on your legs again ? " Tavender. staring now at those shrunken legs of his breathed heay ly. The thing overwhelmed him. 0'"; or twice he hfted his head and essayed to speak, but no llv withT! '° 'r ri " ''P^- ^^ "°^^^^"^^ them'eventa- ally with a long deliberate pull at his glass This much ought to be understood, however." Thorpe resumed, reflecting upon his words as he went l"g If I m to buy back a dead horse, like that, it 's only reasonable that there should be conditions. I suppo e you ve seen by this time that even if this concession of ours was recognized by the Government there would n't be an , money in it to speak of. I did n't realize that two now. The trade has proved it. A property of rubber trees has no real value-so long as there 's a wilderne ^f rubber trees all round that 's everybody's proper " How can a man ..ay even the interest on his purchase money, supposing he 's bought a rubber plantation, whl money at all, but just get out as much as they like from the free forest ? You must know that that is so ' ' is so'"v J "°'''' ^'-^---t^y- " Oh yes. I know that IS so. You can prove it by me " ". know tt ° ^k'°" P™™'" "^ ""■■'• "^'y- " Now does „T t • ' I" ""P'"^ '" "" goo-i-but London does n t know it. Everybody here thinks that it 's a great business to own rubber trees. Why man aliv rt„ you know "-theaudacitv of the ..,Z,IiTl T^^L^" to him to cite brought a gratified twinkle to his eyes as If 2l8 THE MARKET-PLACE ::! i\ '!fl 3i he went on — " do you know that a man here last year actually sold a rubber plantation for four hundred thou- sand pounds — two millions of dollars ! Not in cash, of course, but in shares that he could do something with — and before he 's done with it, I 'm told, he 's going to make twice that amount of money out of it. That '11 show you what lyOndon is like." " Yes— I suppose they do those things," remarked Ta vender, vaguely. ** Well — my point is that perhaps I can do something or other with this concession of yours here. I may even be able to get my money back on it. At any rate I '11 take my chances on it — so that at least you shan't lose anything by it. Of course, if you 'd rather try and put it on the market yourself, why go ahead ! ' ' There was a wistful pathos in the way Tavender shook his head. " Big money does n't mean anything to me any more," he said, wearily. " I 'm too old and I 'm too tired. Why — four— five — yes, half a dozen times I 've had enough money to last me comfortably all my life — and every time I ' ve used it as bait to catch bigger money with, and lost it all. I don't do that any more ! I 've got something the matter with me internally that takes the nerve all out of me. The doctors don't agree about it, but whatever its name is I 've got it for keeps. Prob- ably I shan't live very long "—Thorpe recalled that the old man had always taken a gloomy view of his health after the third glass—" and if you want to pay me the nineteen thousand dollars, or whatever it is, why I shall say ' God bless you,' and be more than contented." " Oh, there 's something more to it than that," observed Thorpe, with an added element of business-like briskness in his tone. " If I lei you out in this way — something, of course, you could never have dreamed would happen — re last year udred thou- in cash, of hing with — 's going to t. That '11 ' remarked D something I may even ny rate I '11 shan't lose y and put it snder shook thing to me md I 'm too times I 've II my life — gger money lore ! I 've y that takes agree about eps. Prob- led that the " his health pay me the why I shall ited." :," observed ze briskness -something, d happen — THE MARKET-PLACE 219 you must do some things for me. I should want you for example, to go back to Mexico at once. Of course Id our thousand pounds to cover that and some other things too. You would n't object to that, would you ? " ^ The man who, two hours before, had confronted ex- Toc^ 2 notV'-rr ^' ''^ ^^-^^ ^^'^-^-"^ -^-^ ^« rieht ' w^r '''"'" "°^- ' ' ^^ "°' '^^' w°"ld be all right, with revivmg animation, he declared. He helped himself again from the cut-glass decanter. " What wtu d you want me to do there ? " " Oh, a report on the concession for a starter " Thoroe answered, with careful indifference. " I suppol; they'm know your name as an authority. I could make that a might be rather important-I would n't like to have yon . oeen yours. That might tend to w.aken the value of ^ point, aon t >ou ^ There never was any such tlung as a transfer of it to you. It 's always been mine T •■ JZ I P™ ]"' ^""^^'^^"'^ ^ purblind sort of wink. saM rerfuIlT '" '"" ' "^"^ "' ~"" " ^"^ ■" '^^ =JT k *■ ''^''' ^ f''^* ""=. had n't you ? " he the oMtrrV^"" " "^'"^ °f contemptuous tolerance the old man s efforts to ignite a cigar which had more than once unrolled like a carpenter's shaving in his uT accustomed fingers, and was now shapelessl/defiant of silently as he took a new cigar a-d »^r«'»'' -* ••-= — -< held by his companion. The air of inno^en^ and 1^^ r 220 THE MARKET-PI.ACE suffering meekncvss was falling rapidly away from him. He put his shabby boots out confidently to the fender and made gestures with his glass as he talked. " My mistake," he declared, in insistent tones, " was in not turning down science thirty years ago and going in bodily for business. Then I should have made my pile as you seem to have done. But I tried to do something of both. Half the year I was assaying crushings, or run- ning a level, or analyzing sugars, for a salary, and the other half I was trying to do a gamble with that salary on the strength of what I 'd learned. You can't ring the bell that way. You 've got to be either a pig or a pup. You can't do both. Now, for instance, if I 'd come to London when you did, and brought my money with me instead of buying your concession with it " " Why, what good do you suppose you would have done?" Thorpe interrupted him with good-natured brusqueness. " You 'd have had it taken from you in a fortnight ! Why, man, do you know what London is ? You 'd have had no more chance here than a naked nigger in a swamp-full of alligators." *' You seem to have hit it off," the other objected. " This is as fine a house as I was ever in." " With me it 's different," Thorpe replied, carelessly. " I have the talent for money-making. I 'm a man in armour. The 'gators can't bite me, nor yet the rattle- snakes." " Yes— men are made up differently," Tavender as- sented, with philosophical gravity. Then he lurched gently in the over-large chair, and fixed an intent gaze upon his host. " What did you make your money in ? " he demanded, not with entire distinctness ol enunciation. " It was n't rubber, was it ? " Thorpe shook his head. " There 's no money in rub- THE MARKET-PLACE 221 ber. I 'm entirely in finance— on the Stock Exchange- dealing in differences," he replied, with a serious face. The explanation seemed wholly pcceptable to Tavender. He mused upon it placidly for a time, with his reverend head pillowed askew against the corner of the chair. Then he let his cigar drop, and closed his eyes. The master of the house bent forward, and noiselessly helped himself to another glass of whiskey and water. Then, sinking back again, he eyed his odd guest medi- tatively as he sipped the drink. He said to himself that in all the miraculous run of luck which the year had brought him, this was the most extraordinary manifesta- tion of the lot. It had been so easy to ignore the existence of this tiresome and fatuous old man, so long as he was in remote Mexico, that he had practically forgotten him. But he should not soon forget the frightened shock with which he had learned of his presence in London, that afternoon. For a minute or two, there in his sister's book-shop, it had seemed as if he were falling through the air— as if the substantial earth had crumbled away from under him. But then his nerve had returned to him, his resourceful brain had reasserted itself With ready shrewdness he had gone out, and met the emergency, and made it the servant of his own purposes. He could be glad now, unreservedly glad, that Tavender had come to Londoti, that things had turned out as they had. In truth, he stood now for the first time on solid ground. When he thought of it, now, the risk he had been ruiming all these months gave him a little sinking of the heart. Upon rcficction, the performance of having sold the same property first to Tavender in Mexico and then to the Rubber Consols Company in London might be subject to injurious comment, or vvorsp. The fact that it was not a real property to begin with had no place 222 THE MARKET-PLACE j;, f 1 i 'i 1 ■■.' .:t' in his thoughts. It was a concession — and concessions were immemorially worth what they would fetch. But the other thing might have been so awkward — and now it was all right ! For an hour and more, till the fire burnt itself out and the guest's snoring became too active a nuisance, Thorpe sat lost in this congratulatory reverie. Then he rose, and sharply shaking Tavender into a semblance of conscious- ness, led him upstairs and put him to bed. Three days later he personally saw Tavender off at Waterloo station by the steamer-train, en route for South- ampton and New York. The old man was in childlike good spirits, looking more ecclesiastical than ever in the new clothes he had been enabled to buy. He visibly purred with content whenever his dim eyes caught sight of the new valise and steamer trunk, which belonged to him, on the busy platform. " You 've been very kind to me, Thorpe," he said more than once, as they stood together beside the open door of the compartment. " I was never so hospitably treated before in my life. Your attention to me has been wonder- ful. I call you a true friend." " Oh, that 's all right ! Glad to do it," replied the other, lightly. In truth he had not let Tavender stray once out of his sight during those three days. He had dragged him tirelessly about London, showing him the sights from South Kensington Museum to the Tower, shopping with him, resting in old taverns with him, break- fasting, lunching, and dining with him— in the indefatig- able resolution that he should strike up no dangerous gossiping acquaintance with strangers. The task had been tiresome in the extreme — but it had been very well worth while. '* One thincf T 'm rather sorrv about." Tavender re- V Ml till THE MARKET-PLACE 223 nder off at marked, m atiologetic parenthesis-" I ought to have gone down and seen that brother-in-law of mine in Kent He s been very good to me, and I 'm not treating him very well. I wrote to tell him I was coming-but since then I have n't had a minute to myself. However 'can wnte to him and explain how it happened. And probably 1 11 be over agani sometime." " Why, of course," said Thorpe, absently. The allu- s.on o the brother-in-law in Kent had escaped his nodce so .ntent was he upon a new congeries of project tak ng vague shape in his mind. ^ slow y, fo lowmg the clue of his thoughts. ' ' There mav be b,g th,ngs to do. XV ite to me as often as you c^ ob iect to me '^ "^ ""' '' ^"""^ °"- Money will be no object to nie-you - xve as much as you like-if things turn up out there that are ^vorth taking up. But n i fd eZr^H "t'"^ '"'°'" '"'-"' ""y -"-'ion ylu "ve ever had wuh me. You Ml get a letter from the Secretary of a Company and the Chainnan asking for a report on a certan, property, and nau.ing a fee. You simply make a tt v!.M r ' "u- " "'^ '"'"^y °f 'he concession, or wav Vol; "^r^-'^'-K- I "'"St n't be alluded to in ;„y way. You quite understand that ? " WsTanT • " "^' ^'^ ^^' '"^"' ^"^ -""^ ^- b— It was indeed witli a trustful eye that Thorpe watched the train draw out of the station. MMU I t 'i CHAPTER XVI THE week following the August Bank Holiday is very rarely indeed a busy or anxious time in the City. In the ordinary course of things, it serves as the easy- going prelude— with but casual and inattentive visits eastward, and with only the most careless glances through the financial papers— to the halcyon period of the real vacation. Men come to the City during this week, it is true, but their thoughts are elsewhere— on the moors, on the blue sea, on the glacier, or the fiord, or the pleasant German pine forests. To the great mass of City people, this August in ques- tion began in a normal enough fashion. To one little group of operators, however, and to the widening circle of brokers, bankers, and other men of affairs whose inter- ests were more or less involved with those of this group, ii was a season of keen perturbation. A combat of an extraordinaiy character was going on— a combat which threatened to develop into a massacre. Even to the operators who, unhappily for themselves, were principals in this fight, it was a struggle in the dark. They knew little about it, beyond the grimly-patent fact that they were battling for their very lives. The outer ring of their friends and supporters and dependents knew still less, though their rage and fears were perhaps greater. The " press " seemed to know nothing at all. This unnatural silence of the City's mouthpieces, usually so resoundingly clamorous uion the one side and the other when a duel is ••4 THE MARKET-PLACE 225 iday is very in the City, as the easy- iiitive visits ces through of the real 3 week, it is le moors, on the pleasant :ust in ques- 'o one little ening circle ^^hose inter- this group, )mbat of an mbat which ven to the e principals They knew t that they ing of their V still less, sater. The s unnatural jsoundingly en a dii^l is **3 m progress, gave a sinister aspect to the thino- ^u had been gagged and blindfolLd fo/the occa^J^^^^^^ Itself was of baleful significance tV^T """"f '°"- ^^'^ ^^ they had been bribed ^ofgnoTe iT " '"'' ^^^'^ Outwardly there wa^ Jr . ' ^" assassination. bald statement tharon A "^'" "'"' '''' '^^ ""^^^^-1. sharps Tu^ • x- . ' ^^ ^15 for one-pound no « an nI/T""" '""''"'^^ "■« Public atTarge Reader, herl andTere .r^ rtlT "' '""^ ^'•"^^• said to themselves tw!: f ,^ *'^"'^'' ""'** h^e money burverv little T f*^^ '^"^'^ ^^"^ ^"'"^"S iae„ti^;.ott;^,e''x:Vo;rwr^^,- modern expl^totofthe world":? °''"'"''''^' '^'■' '"^ many •• ki,L " that th? u /°'"" '^""'"^ '"^'^« =" i-dLelf tfthe p'opjar e';:"'^ '^'^ '""• ^ ^^'' f-"""" era?r:rt^;!■;f.TrKi:^^y ^^^ ■^"-•■' ^ ^- who had romp in . ^""°^^ ^ing- He was an outsider but it was a^o,!^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ his pockets ; always got tr^nl^tt ^^.^^ outsiders who did this lon^ nm ri ^ / ^"'^^'^^ ^°^ ^^^'^ again in the .2:frw„„^n::::rer:ir.rth^^^^^^^ - ;::s, :;r nr ~ - --^^^^^^^^^ i^iuuis or nis Rubber corner could fill h T« 1 such a man, however, could „ot but be"^;fh a, d the" 7 furttve notes of his number i„ Austi,! Frills "''ll!!!'"!^ after couvcrsatiou had drifted from him to o^he'r topi^r' «i (If IIWrrf>lrnii1iiiiiiiii[i'iiaSi f ll f J 1 5 I] •f li 226 THE MARKET-PLACE As to the Rubber corner itself, the Stock Exchange as a whole was apathetic. When some of the suflFerers ven- tured cautious hints about the possibility of official inter- vention on their behalf, they were laughed at by those who did not turn away in cold silence. Of the fourteen men who had originally been caught in the net drawn tight by Thorpe and Semple, all the conspicuous ones be- longed to the class of ' ' wreckers, ' ' a class which does not endear itself to Capel Court. Both Rostocker and Aronson, who, it was said, were worst hit, were men of great wealth, but they had sys- tematically amassed these fortunes by strangling in their cradles weak enterprises, and by undermining and toppling over other enterprises which would not have been weak if they had been given a legitimate chance to live. Their system was legal enough, in the eyes alike of the law and of the Stock Exchange rules. They had an undoubted right to mark out their prey and pursue it, and bring it down, and feed to the bone upon it. But the exercise of this right did not make them beloved by the begetters and sponsors of their victims. When word first went round, on the last day of February, that a lamb had unexpectedly turned upon these two practised and confident wolves, and had torn an ear from each of them, and driven them pell-mell into a "corner," it was received on all sides with a gratified smile. Later, by fortnightly stages, the ^tory grew at once more tragic and more satisfactory. Not only Rostocker and Aronson, but a dozen others were in the ml de sac guarded by this surprising and bloody-minded lamb. Most of the names were well-known as those of" wreckers." In this category belonged Blaur.ein, Gmz, Rothfoere, Lewis, Asclier, :uid Mendel, and if Harding, Carpenter, and Vesev could Jiot l)e so confidently classified, at least Exchange as ifferers ven- fficial iuter- at by those he fourteen ; net drawn 3US ones be- ich does not J said, were ey had sys- iing in their md toppling been weak ive. Their the law and undoubted and bring it exercise of igetters and vent round, tiexpectedly ent wolves, iriven them an all sides ew at once y Rostocker le ml de sac amb. Most wreckers. ' ' Rothfoere, Carpenter, ied, at least THE MARKET-PLACE 327 were practically unknown "'' ^'""^y' .ha?s: T,zv:;!Z'::r:T ^\ '-^ ^'^'^"'^"' firm of Fromentin Rmf «'"«>nely conservative Egyptian b^ds "ino Levltin'fr'^' "' '"^ '«"^- Arabian and Pe;siar.rad~;seZd h''^^^ of tlie Fronientinc T , nothing- to them MoK a ^ ' "^ '^^ ^^""s said sets owned by ti.isConm '"'''I "^ ™'"<= "' "'^ -- paying a divlXnd-evenTh^^^,":;^!/^^^^^^^^^ f "« was maUin, the most sentrioi pTar'd', f/ ''"hTw Thorpe stood with his shareholders or whether h. .^ «;e\^er"ft°''r^ '^'■'""'""'^' '^^^^^ -!--.r:i-ronr%'Ce':i';;feJt-«r-' ■^'1 • "-w. iJLLir: It'll .■^r be pointed e than any- sought his vility, who i^ould break already he often went, ^oud doubt 3 he merely 1 had their wrench of ing rise the 3 to be coin- day nearly a story was redit of the ivn lips that Dn a group grievance, nit that, of orner," six ook signlfi- :ction, that ed to make eory of an :ion seemed point that 229 Blaustein and Ascher had been bled white, as Bismarck's phrase went before they were released, whereas the five fines Unont T i'^'""'^' "^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ "^^-^te clung thereafter about the " corner " in Rubber Consols. Thorn" ?°°" ^^ '^' ^°"°^^"^ ^^^^^' ^'' Stormont Thorpe was alone m the Board Room of the offices in ^esk o r; ""' 'f ' """ '^^"^ ^^^ ^-^^ roller-topp d desk over between the windows, and walked now with a lethargic, tired step to and fro before the empty fireplace yawmng more than once, and stretching out his arms hi the supreme gesture of fatigue. After a dozen listles rounds, something occurred to him. He moved with a Znrt .f"''/ "^ P"'P°'^ '^ '^'^ ^^bi'^^t in the corner, brandt !.' "f ""'^^ '"^ ''' ^^"^^^^^ ^ ^"-^ler o brandy and soda. He drank it without a pause, then turned agani. and began pacing up and down as before his hands clasped behind him, his head bent in thought. ' ^ The intervening six months had effected visible changes m the outer man. One noted most readily that the face had grown fuller in its lower parts, and was far less browned than formerly. The large, heavy countenan:" with Its square jaws masked now under increased flesh Its beginnings of a double-chin, and its slightly flabby effect of pallor, was no longer lacking in individual dis^ tinction It was palpably the visage of a dictator. The moustache had been cut down to military brevity, and the hne of mouth below it was eloquent of rough p;wer. The steady grey eyes, seemingly smaller yet more con- spicuous than before, revealed in their glance new ele- 17' °^f ^f 'veness, of strategy supported by abundant and confident personal force. T.!^^, ?f " ^""5^^ «^^"^^d s^^'-cely to have grown stouter, xxc .cm nimseii more compactly, as it were ; seemed more i I 230 THE MARKET-PLACE A Jilijl ^: ■If! the master of all his physical expressions. He was dressed like a magnate who was also a person of taste. There was a flower in the lapel of his well-shaped frock-coat, and the rustle of his starched and spotless white waistcoat murmured pleasantly of refined toilets. " The Marquis of Chaldou — and a gentleman, with him." The announcement, from a clerk who had noiselessly opened the door, imposed itself with decorum upon Thorpe's reverie. " Who is the gentleman with him?" Thorpe began austerely to ask, after an instant's hesitation. But this briefest of delays had brought the callers into plain view behind the clerk, and with a slight gesture the master assented to their entrance. This large apartment was no longer called the Board Room by anybody. By tacit processes, it had become Mr. Thorpe's room. Not even the titular Chairman of the Company, the renowned and eminent Lord Chaldon, ex-Ambassador and ex- Viceroy, entered this chamber now with any assumption of proprietorship in it. No hint of a recollection that there were such things as the Company and the Board, or that he was nominally the head of both, expressed itself in his Lordship's demeanour as he advanced, his hand a little extended. The noble Chairman was white of beard and hair, and extremely courteous of manner— a small, carefully-clad, gracious old gentleman, whose mild pink countenance had, with years of anxiety about ways and means, dis- posed itself in lines which produced a chronic expression of solicitude. A nervous affection of the eyelids lent to this look, at intervals, a beseeching quality which embar- rassed the beholder. All men had liked him, and spoken well of him throughout his long and hard-worked career. THE MARKET-rLACE 231 as dressed t. There -coat, and waistcoat lan, with loiselessly urn upon ■pe began But this )lain view le master the Board d become airman of Chaldon, chamber I it. No igs as the inally the emeanour hair, and fully-clad, iintenance eans, dis- ixpression ds lent to ch embar- nd spoken ;ed career. Thorpe was very fond of him indeed, and put a respectful cordiality into his grasp of the proffered hand. Then he looked, with a certain thinly-veiled bluntness of enquiry, past the Marquis to his companion. " You were very kind to give me the appointment," said Lord Chaldon, with a little purring gloss of affability upon the earnestness of his tone. " I wish very much to introduce to you my friend, my old friend I may say. Monsieur Alexandre Fromentin. We slept together under the same tent, in the Persian country beyond Bag- dad—oh, it must have been quite forty years ago. We were youngsters looking to win our first spurs then— I in my line, he in his. And often since we have renewed that old friendship— at many different places— India, and Con- stantinople, and Egypt. I wish heartily to commend him to your — your kindness." Thorpe had perfunctorily shaken hands with the stranger— a tall, slender, sharp-faced, clean-shaven, nar- row-shouldered man, who by these accounts of his years ought not to have such excessively black hair. He bowed in a foreign fashion, and uttered some words which Thorpe, though he recognized them as Enghsh in intent, failed to follow. The voice was that of an elderly man, and at a second glance there were plenty of proofs that he might have been older than the Marquis, out there in Persia, forty years ago. But Thorpe did not like old men who dyed their hair, and he offered his visitors chairs, drawn up from the table toward his desk, with a certain reserve of manner. Seating himself in the revolving chair at the desk itself, he put the tips of his fingers together, and looked this gentleman with the Continental name and ex- perience in the face. " Is there something you wish me to do ? " he asked, passively facilitating the opening of conversation. 'I f i V THE MARKET-PLACE " Ah, my God ! ' Something ' ! "—repeated the other, with a fluttering gesture of his hands over his thin, pointed knees—" everything, Mr. Thorpe ! " " That 's a tolerably large order, is n't it ? " Thorpe asked, calmly, moving a slow, inscrutable glance from one to the other of his callers. " I cou' ask for nothing that would be a greater per- sonal favour— and kindness "—Lord Chaldon interposed. His tone bore the stress of sincerity. " That means a great deal to me, as you know, my Lord," replied Thorpe, "but I don't in the least under- stand—what is it that your friend wants ? " Only that I shall not be buried in a bankrupt's grave, ' ' the suppliant answered, with a kind of embittered eager- ness of utterance. " That I shall not see disgraced the honoured name that my father and his father bequeathed to my care ! " Thorpe's large, composed countenance betrayed a cer- tain perplexity. "There must be a mistake," he ob- served. " I don't even know this name of yours. I never heard it before." The other's mobile face twisted itself in a grimace of incredulity. He had a conspicuously wide mouth, and its trick of sidelong extension at this moment was very unpleasant. "Ah, Herr Je ! He never heard it," he ejaculated, turning nervously to the Marquis. " Would to the good God you never had ! " he told Thorpe, with suppressed excitement. Lord Chaldon, his own voice shaken a little, interposed with an explanation. " My friend is the head— the re- spected head— of the firm of Fromentin Brothers. I think you have — have dealings with them." Thorpe, after a furtive instant of bewilderment, opened his mouth. " Oh ! I see," he said. " I know what vou the other, u, pointed " Thorpe ince from 'eater per- iterposed. :now, my ist under- s grave," ed eager- raced the :queathed 'ed a cer- " he ob- ^^ours. I imace of uth, and was very I it," he " Would rpe, with iterposed —the re- I think , opened vhat vou THE MARKET-PLACE 333 mean now. With the French protmnciation I did n't recogm.e the name. I 've always heard it c'alled Fro ^^B^r::^> '°°'^"- ^^' -' ^^ — - His lips shut tight again at this. Tlie listeners harf caught no helpful due from the tone of his wok™ The' '■ r-?,' ''"":':' l"" "'^" M- I'™™-"'" spoke. ' at .^f '^'' ' ^^«''"' "^""^y- ""h an ob>,ious effort at ^f-repressK,n. ■• It is a very simple story. Our house ,s an old one. My father's grandfather or?an,>d U.e finance of the commissariat of O.noral Bonaparte !n Egypt. He created the small be,.„„i... of the carpe and rug .mportation from Asia Minor. Kl, son and h urn h,s son, followed him. They ....ne h nS as w 1^TZ\ ^'T "^'r' ™^y S- ">' '0 develop^" usurls n T ^"'^ ™"= "°' ^™""°"=* »™. or cZ2„ \ r' '" °"' "°°''- ^°" Chairman, Lord ?11a \ "''° b™™'-^ -e so highly by calling me his he L O rr r "l^' ^^ haveagood^,amei,: tne iiast. Our banks have befriended the people and neveroppressedorinjuredthem. For that rea'^.on-i ^'m ay perhaps for that reaso,.-we have never become a ve y nch house. It ,s po,,sibIe to name bankers who have n,v^ . .1 °" "" "" y"" *^' °f "" own free will ^"seTfifth of^n'"' '~°'°" """ ^""'^^ "^ -"-" " ZTu J 1 "^ P°^=5='°n'. rather than coin i. ■ Shee^!^^"^ '"' ''"' ^"^ ^--^ of '-^ wretched " Yes-I have never known a more honourable or hu- mane action," put in the Marquis, fervently. at Smvrn. " 7 T"""'' ^''~^^^'y^o^' who lived mostly at Smyrna, and whose estate was withdrawn fronn ti.^ business by his widow, and Augustin, who lived here in la ■ i i ^! !| ■ ! i> -m.-mtM**^ mmmmmm^0mititiitm>m 234 THE MARKET-PLACE Lojidon after 1870, and died— it is now six years ago. He left a son, Robert, who is my nephew, and my partner. He is now of an age— perhaps thirty years. He wa& a small child when he came to London — he has become more English than the English themselves. His activity and industry are very great ; he forms plans of such mag- nitude and numbers that they would compel his grand- fother to turn in his coffin. I am in indifferent health. I live much at Homburg and Marienbad and at Cairo. Practically speaking, I have retired from business. There remain branches of our house— in seven! places— but the London house has become the centre of all things— and Robert has become the London house. This I make plain to your mind, do 1, Mr. Thorpe ? " The other, with his chin sut^k within the collar of his white waistcoat, and scrutinizing the narrator with a .steadfast though impassive glance, made the faintest pos- sible nod of assent. " I had great confidence in Robert," the old man went on. His eyes were dimming with tears, and his voice quavered uncertainly. " His plans seemed wise, even if they risked more than formerly. The conditions of busi- ness are wholly altered .since my youth— and it was be.st, I thought, to make Robert free to act under these con- ditions, which he understood nuich better than I could pretend to do. Thus it was that when he said it was neces.sar3' for Fromentin Brothers to belong to the Stock ICxchange, I did not object. He was active and bold and clever, and he was in the thick of the fight. Therefore he should be the judge in all things. And that is our ruin. In the time of the South African excitement, he won a great deal of money. Then h- lost it all and more. Then gambling began, and his fortunes went, now up, now down, but always, as his books show to me now— i THE MARKET-PLACE 235 ars ago. partner. [e waA a become activity cli iiiag- 5 grand - lalth. I t Cairo. There -but the gs— and I make ir of his with a test pos- lan went lis voice , even if of busi- vas best, lese con- I could d it was :ie Stock bold and Mierefore it is our mejit, he nd more, now up, le now — sinking a little on the average. He grew more adventur- ous-more careless. He put many small counters upon different nmnbers on the table. You know what I mean ? And in an accursed moment, because other gamblers were doing the same, he sold two thousand of your shares, without having them in his hands. / 'oih) f He wishes now to put a bullet through his brain. He proposes that as the fitting end of Fromentin Freres," Thorpe, his chin on his breast, continued to regard the melancholy figure opposite with a moody eye. It seemed a long minute before he broke the tense silence by a sigh of discomfort. " I do not discuss these things with any- body," he said then, coldly. '* If I had known who you were, I don't think you 'd have got in." The Marquis of Chaldon intuitively straightened him- self in his chair, and turned toward the speaker a glance of distressed surprise. " Or no-I beg your pardon," Thorpe hastened to add, upon the instant hint of this look—" that (:oes n't convey my meaning. Of course, our Chairman brings whom he pleases. His friends— as a matter of course— are our friend.s. What I .should have said was that if this had been mentirned beforehand to me, I shoidd have ex- plained that it was n't possible to discuss that particular business." " But— pardon me"— .said Lord Chaldon. in a quiet, very gentle, yet insistent voice, which .seemed now to re- call to its li.steners the fact that .sovereigns and chancellors had in their day had attentive ears for its tones—" pardon me, but why .should it not be jmssible ? " Thorpe frowned doubtfully, and shifted his position in his chair. " What could I .say, if it were discussed ? " he made vague retort. " I 'ni merelv one of the Directors You are our Chairman, but you see he has n't found it of ! ; \% i 14 236 THE MARKET-PLACE If m any use to discuss it with you. There are hard and fast rules about these things. They run their natural coiirse. You are not a business man, ray Lord " " Oh, I think I may be called a ' business man,' " inter- posed the nobleman, suavely. " They would tell you so in Calcutta, I think, and in Cairo too. When one con- siders it, I have transacted a great deal of business— on the behalf of other people. And if you will permit me— I do not impute indirection, of course— but your remark seems to require a footnote. It is true that I am Chair- man of the Board on which you are a Director— bat it is not quite the whole truth. I as Chairman know abso- lutely nothing about this matter. As I understand the situation, it is not in your capacity as a Director that you know anything about it either. Yet " He paused, as if suddenly con.scioi.i of some impropriety in this domestic frankness before a third party, and Thorpe pounced through his well-mannered hesitation with the swiftness of a bird of prey. " Let me suggest," he said roundly, lifting his head and poising a hand to hold attention, while he thought upon what it was he should suggest—" this is what I would say. It seems rather irregular, does n't it ? to de- bate the matter in the presence of an outsider. You see it yourself That is partly whac 1 meant. Now I have met Mr, Fromentin," he gave the name its English vowels with an obstinate emphasis, " and I have heard his state- ment. You have heard it too. If he wishes to lay more facts before us. why, well and good. But then I would suggest that lie leave the matter in our hands, to di.scuss and look into between ourseivt That seems to you the proper course, does n't it, Lord Chaldon ? " The French banker had been studying with strained acuteness the big lymphatic mask of the Director, with f I "d and fast ral course. i,"'inter- :ell you so one con- si ness — on nil me — I ir remark am Chair- — bat it is low abso- stand the ■ that you propriety d Thorpe with the his head ; thought J what I t ? to de- You see w I have ih vowels liis state- lay more I would discuss ' you the strained :or, with THE MARKET-PLACE 237 sundry sharp glances aside at the Chairnan Th. .. Thorpe.' pro;::-tL:''Th :":",. jrhisi'"^ '"" '° and put.,eust face possible ;V;Th:„««e'r ■" '""• Prietfes •• hJ .r ^"f'J°"f co„ve.,ience-a„d the pro- "Tterearebunt^'n '"■ '''"' °' P™"'' "-'"'y- has already pa" 1 W,-r" "''' '° ^"''"''- ^^ "^Ph^" a total of Practicallf^roo::'"^!,/ -.^^tVr^^^ pnvilege of being allowed to buy these -hares now r /6o,ooo. It l: "„ , : ::T.,nri -^ "'^ '^^^ °' nephew Robert has brou.l.rittto' b rutir- ^ aTd'Ti^b-™: "^^t^:'!""^™"- ^^'^'" "" •»>• -.. -e!,: thissr,ol3:::^\:7^'"f P-!--; --« ."ake.,p in existence r^' '"'''^ ""^ ''"" "> '■^'"ain n existence I have gone over the books very p.:„stak ingly, since I arrived in Tondm. jt „ i . P ' "^"'^ and it can be brought lack to r^^ , " * '"•'P' """'■ ohi. „„ '"ufcni Daciv to safe and nioderatclv nrofit- able courses— if nothing worse lnnn.„« xx'.u , We -^r T '"^' '"■■^ ^■"' - "^- - a ■ .3 r eend of evervthimr. -. Fromcuuu lluishe 1 In tremulous, grave tones. After - '■«. w ' i' ^ ' ' a i a aais 5a v. f »aB38B atasBaa-K] 238 THE MARKET-PLACE looking with blurred eyes for a moment into Thorpe's face, he bowed his head, and softly swayed the knees upon which his thin, dark hands maintained their clutch. Not even the revelation of hair quite white at the roots, un- duly widening the track of parting on the top of his dyed head, could rob this movement of its mournful dignity. Thorpe, after a moment's pause, took a pencil and paper from the desk, and made a calculation. He bit his lips and frowned at the sight of these figures, and set down some others, which .seemed to please him no more. Then, with a sudden gesture as of impatience, he rose to his feet! " How much is that sister's marriage portion you spoke of ? " he asked, rather brusquely. The French gentleman had also risen. He looked with an air of astonishment at his questioner, and then hardened his face. " I apologize for mentioning it," he said, with brevity. "One does not speak of family affairs. ' ' " I asked you how much it was," pursued Thorpe, in a masterful tone. " A man does n't want to rob a girl of her marriage portion." " I think I must not answer you," the other replied, hesitatingly. " It was the fault of my emotion to intro- duce the subject Pray leave the young lady out of account." " Then I 've nothing more to say," Thorpe declared, and seated himself again with superfluous energy. He scowled for a little at the disorder of his desk, and then flung forth an angry explanation. " If you evade fair questions like that, how can you expect that I will go out of my way to help you ? ' ' " Oh, permit me, Mr. Thorpe "—the Marquis intervened soothingly -" I think you misapprehend. My friend, I am sure, wished to evade nothing. He had the idea thai he was at fault ia — hi alludii%' to a purely domestic mat- THE MARKET-PLACE 239 siderat.on. He turned to the old banker. - You will frldf " '' ""^'"" '"' ^"" ^° °^^' -^^ ^-' -y M. Fromentin shrugged his shoulders. "It is ten thousand pounds, ' ' he replied, almost curtly Thorpe was seemingly mollified. " Very well then " he said. « I will sell you .,000 shares at ten pounds "' llie others exchanged a wondering look "Monsieur," the banker stammered-" I see vour .neanu.g. You will forgive me-it is very well mean indeed by you-bnt it was not n,y proposition The market-pnce is fifteen pounds-and we were preparel *: Thori)e laughed in a peremptory, gusty wav " R„f SaX '•"^cT "f "r ', "^^ •' " ''''' ^^^^ -^'^ ff ,1 ^M ? ^' ■' ^ '-'' >'°" ""d yo"' nephew in out of the cold, what kind of men-folk would you be7o nsT, tha. your niece should be left outside ? As I said I Z' t want her money. I don, want any woman ■ s mly'f' I m going to be n,ce to the rest of the family, what 's the objection to my being nice to her ' " flection""" l"ff'' '"' "•' f r^'""''". =>«" an instant's re- fZT\ r "°"^- ' '"'' '"" « 'h^ n><»"ent perceive tnTr- T" ''"'^" wnversation the elder Fromentin took l„s departure. Lord Chaldon apparently prono* to accompany him, but Thor,«. begged h' to rT, and he put aside his hat once Lore S re „ "..d 1^^" ' pie "in":''","""'" " '■•'"^' -'" '- '-"^ in h s pockets, ni a restless wav. " Tf U i. .,>f ..,„,i . you, J think I '11 li-rlu a'cit-i- •'• i^ " '•. "''^:,'''^''""' ^" iiftUi a ciga , he said suddenly, and liiiiViii ii'rIVi 240 THl; MARKET-PLACE moved over to th cabinet. He poured out a drink of neat brandy, as well, and furtively swallowed it. Then he came back, preceded by a cloud of smoke. " It went terribly against the grain," he said, with a rueful laugh. "I'd sworn to let no Jew oflF with an inch of hide left on him— and here three of them have been wheedled out of my grip already. ' ' "Jews?" exclaimed the Marquis, much puzzled. " Did you— did you think Fromentin was a Jew .> God bless me ! litt 's no more one than I am ! Why, not even so much, for there is a Herscheli in my pedigree. Wh} , dear man, they were Cnisaders ! " Thorpe smiled somewbat sheepishly. ' ' I never noticed much," he said. " It uas a foreign-looking name. I took it for granted." Lord Chaldon beut his brov/s a little. " Yes-s"— he murmured, ineditatively. " I ' ve heard it mentioned that your enterprise was suspected of an anti-Semitic twist. Do you mind my talking a little with you about that ? " "Oh, not at all," the other answered with languid acquiescence, as he se.ited himself. 1 drink of it. Then i ) lid, with a th an inch have beea puzzled, iw ? God , not even e. Wh>, er noticed name. I is-s" — he oned that tic twist, that?" 1 languid CHAPTER XVII I ""^fe ''^H^^^f' ^^ "-t-<^tive little monologue on Tlwnr. I 1 ''' ^^'^^^ '- fi"-^- afforded lUorpe a certain pleasure, which was in its character perhaps, more social than intellectual ^^^racter. It was both a flattering and striking experience to have so eminent a man at the side of one's desk, reveal L for one s guidance the secrets of sovereigns and c b" nefs Great names were mentioned in the course of this disser- IlTTr' -'"'^ "^^' ^'^ authoritative ease of one who dined with princes and prime ministers-and Thorpe fe^? hat he shared in the distinction of this familiarity wfth tbe august. He was in th. position of paying a salarv to ^-courii.old nobleman and statesnirn'wl^'cru^^^'td^ him of his own intimate knowledge how Emperors con versed with one another ; how the Pope fidgeted L 1 topics , how a Queen and an opera-bouffe dancer wa-ed an obscure and envenomed battle for the possession Y counting-house strong box. and in the ro~a Ln was armea with inferior old muskets instead of nod n bTar;Lir ''' ''' '-' ''' ''^'--- -p-e^ ia These reminiscences seemed to alter the atmosphere and even the appearance, of the Board Room. ItTas Smo j «s ,f the apartment itself was becominghistor^cMke those chambers they pointed out to the t„„rit „,^„.l — I^"'! heads had siept. The manner of theMa'rqur^r;::;,' 242 THE MARKET-PLACE charmingly to this illusion. He spoke in a facile, mel- lifluous voice, and as fluently as if he had been at work for a long time preparing a dissertation on this subject, instead of taking it up now by chance. In his tone, in his gestures, in the sustained friendliness of his facial ex- pressions, there was a palpable desire to please his auditor —and Thorpe gave more heed to this than to the thread of the discourse. The facts that he heard now about the Jewish masters of international finance were doubtless surprising and suggestive to a degree, but somehow they failed to stimulate his imagination. I,ord Chaldon's statesmanlike discussion of the uses to which they put this vast power of theirs ; his conviction that on the whole they were beneficent ; his dread of the consequences of any organized attempt to take this power away from them, and put it into other and less capable hands— no doubt it was all very clever and wise, but Thorpe did not care for it. At the end he nodded, and, with a lumbering move- ment, altered his position in his chair. The fixed idea of despoiling Rostocker, Aronson, Ganz, Rothfoere, Lewis, and Mendel of their kst sixpence had been in no wise affected by this entertaining homily. There appeared to be no need of pretending that it had been. If he knew anything of men and their manners, his titled friend would not object to a change of topic. " Lord Chaldon," he said abruptly, " we 've talked enough about general matters. While you 're here, we might as well go into the subject of the Company. Our annual meeting is pretty nearly due— but I think it would be better to have it postponed. You see, this extraordi- nary development of dealing in our shares on the Stock Exchange has occupied my entire attention. There has — -..ij^ s-,-i Msiau^iii^ lilt iuatiiiuciy oi upcraiioas THE MARKET-PLACE 243 onour property in Mexico. It 'sstill there; it 'sail ri^t But for the t,me being, the operations in iondon a e "0 much more .mportant. We should have nothing to tell our shareholders, if we brought them togeXr e°ci that the,r one-pound shares are worth fifteen pounds and they know that already." i^unas, ana nln'tZ^""^"'"^"^ "f '""^ """^ " ^■'^'"dly attentive eye upon the speaker's face. The nervous aiTeclion of Ws eyehds gave h.m now a minute of blinking Idsure in which to frame his comment. " I have not helrd tha V shares are worth fifteen pounds," he said then wi h » direct, meaning little smile. ' "" * hircha°ir '^''Z/f"^'^'!' ^"'"«^ -°"fortably back in ms Chair, That s what I want to talk to you about You see, when the Company was started, it was i„«le to foresee that this dealing in our ordinary shareswo ,M swamp everything else. If things had taken tl^rZd course and we had paid our attention to Mexico instead of to the London Stock Exchange, my deferred v dor' shares, two thousand of which you hold, would by this time be worth a good biu As it is, unfortunately thev are outs.de of the deal. They have nothing to do wUh the movement of the ordinarv shares n„t J understand all that. " ^' °^ ~"'^ 5"^" Lord Chaldon assented by an eloquent nod, at once re signed and hopeful. "^^ inten«oI!s~''TV' '""'""^ '" "" "^ -'=I«<^'atio„s-and r, r^ K .; • ?'^ '^^'""'^- " I don't want you to suffer by this unlooked-for change in the shape of thiLs You hold tvyo thousand shares-only by accident they^^ the wrong kind of shares. Very well ■ I •)] Zl ,u the right kind of shares. I'll haveT tan fe ' o ':':: tomorrow, so that vou can rptum ^ho- --. • • ^ to me, and in exchange ,.; them I 'tgl.rZl^oX: I ^'- 'r - .,;,f-^-.-fTWir.->^i,p.gy^.,-j^p.„. 244 THE MARKET-PLACE III more sand fully-paid ordinary shares. You can sell once, if you like, or you can hol.i ;:>cn:; uu over < settlement, whichever you • '.aise." " This is very munificeit, ' remarked Lord Chaldou, after an instant's self-cojumunion. His tone was ex- tremely gracious, but he displayed none of the enthusi- astic excitement which Thorpe perceived now th?+ ^■-' had looked for. The equanimity of Marquises, who were also ex- Ambassadors, was evidently a deeper- rooted affair than he had supposed. This elderly and urbane diplomat took a gift of thirty thoi' and pounds as he might have accepted a superior cigar. A brief pause eisued, and was ended by another remark from the nobleman : " I thought for the moment of asking your advice— on this question of selling," he continued, " But it will be put more appropriately, perhaps, in this way : Let me leave it entirely in your hands. Whatever you do will be right. I know so little oi these things— and you know so much." Thorpe put out his lips a trifle, and looked away for an instant in frowning abstraction. " If it were put in that way— I think I should sell, ' ' he said. " It 's all right for me to take long chances— it 's my game- but there 's no reason why you should risk things. But let ^'le put it in still another way," he added, -th th^ passin gleam of a new thought over the dull surface of his eye. ' ' What do you say to our making the transaction strictly between ourselves ? Here are shares tc .jeurer, in the r.afe there. I say that two thousand of them are yours : that makes them yours. I give you my cheque for thirty . lousand pounds — here, now, if you like—and th makes them mine again. The business is finished c dc e with— inside this room. Neither of us is to sa> aytmag about it to a soul Does that meet your views ? " ill these at ir one more d Chaldon, le was ex- he enthusi- th^^^i -had o were also . afifair than )lomat took ve accepted her remark it of asking continued, aps, in this Whatever ie things — way for an put in that .11 right for there 's no le put it in gleam of a "What do y between rafe there. :hat makes r tliousand akes them e with — iing about THE MARKET-PLACE 24 r possible to suggest a vanVfv ^7 v l ^ '^''''^^ ^^ a sophistical t'u'r n o Snd T- 1 tfd aUaV' ""% "T^ °' flective. " Yet I see nn rlii ^^^' ^^^^^^^S^y re- Path ' • TT. 1 f ^^^y insuperable obstacle in the Thorp, shook his head with confidence. " No-vou need have no fear nf i-hci- tm ^^^ air'^'Se Ltd fa"l'''^!f /f---^^-'* ^ P«-'ed ing of difi, rent things." he su.^ested "^"a "' '" r^"' great eal a„o„t th. .her press-the gt t'pt.fp esT" divorce court, 'o^ a c::n'or:or ti d ' TLTikr;'^ S^ttti-^^s^tT ^-"^ ^ ^"-^M n"; sworn to wif ^^''f '° ''« Pnnted until it had been thTl can I" ""'""'^ ^'°""' "^ ^f-'" »^ ">-• - -orL Pany's affairs T \^r.r.^ J' i^u'Jm ciiscussion of our Com- F'^uy h anairs. I hope it is quite rl^ar ^hat f^^- u avoided." * ^^ ^"-^ be 246 THE MARKET-PLACE " Absolutely ! " Thorpe told him, with reassuring energy. " Why, discussions don't make themselves. Somebody has to kick before anything gets discussed. And who is to kick here? The public who hold the shares are not likely to complain because they 've gone up fifteen hundred or two thousand per cent. And who else has any interest in what the Company, as a Company, does? " " Ah, that is a question which has occurred to me," said I,ord Chaldon, " and I shall be glad if it is already answered. The only people likely to ' kick,' as you put it so simply, would be, I take it, Directors and other officers of the Company who find themselves holding a class of shares which does not participate in the present rise. I speak with some confidence— because I was in that position myself until a few minutes ago— and I don't mind confessing that I had brought myself to contemplate the contingency of ultimately being compelled to— to ' kick ' a little. Of course, so far as I am concerned, events have put me in a diametrically different frame of mind. If I came prepared— I won't say to curse, but to— to criticize— I certainly remain to bless. But you see my point. I of course do not know what you have done as regards the other members of the Board." •' I don't care about them," said Thorpe, carelessly. " You are the one that I wished to bring in on the ground- floor. The others don't matter. Of course, I shall do something for them ; they shan't be allowed to make trouble— even supposing that it would be in their power to make trouble, which is n't the case. But it won't be done by any means on the same scale that—" he paused abruptly, and the two men tacitly completed his sentence in the glance they exchanged. The Marquis of Chaldon rose, and took up his hat and THE MARKET-PLACE reassunng lemselves. discussed, hold the ' 've gone And who Company, I to me," is already IS you put ind other holding a e present ^as in that on't mind iplate the to ' kick ' ents have nd. If I :riticize — int. I of yards the arelessly. i ground- shall do to make eir power won't be le paused sentence s hat and 247 stick. If you will post it to me— in a registered letter— my town house-please," he remarked, with a charmingly delicate hesitation over the phrases. Then he put out his hand : I need not say how fully I appreciate your great kindness to my old friend Fromentin. It was a noble action-one I shall always reflect upon with admiration." I hope you won't mention it, though," said Thorpe as they shook hands ; ' ' either that or-or anything else ' ' I shall preserve the most guarded— the most diplo- matic secrecy," his I^ordship assured him, as they walked toward the door. Thorpe opened this door, and stepped aside, with a half bow, to facilitate the exit of the Marquis, who bent gra- cious acknowledgment of the courtesy. Then, with an abrupt start of surprise, the two men straightened them- selves. Directly in front of them, leaning lightly against the brass-rail which guarded the entrance to the Board Room, stood lyord Plowden. A certain sense of confusion, unwelcome but inevitable visibly enveloped this chance meeting. The Marqui^ blinked very hard as he exchanged a fleeting hand-shake with the younger nobleman, and murmured some indis- tingmshable commonplaces. Then, with a graceful ce- lerity, which was more than diplomatic, he disappeared. Thorpe, with more difficulty, recovered a sort of stolidity of expression that might pass for composure. He in turn gave his hand to the newcomer, and nodded to him, and achieved a doubtful smile. " ^°"^^/" •' " ^e said, haltingly. - Where did you drop irom? Glad to see you ! How are all your people ? " A moment later the young Viscount was seated in the chair which the elderiy Marquis had vacated. He pre- sented therein a figure which, in it. way, was perhaps as couruy as tne other had been-but the way was widely 248 TIIK MARKK'l' 1-l.ACK diflerent. Lord Plowdcn's fine, litlie form expressed no deferenie in its easy postures. His handsome face was at no pains to assume conciliatory or in>;ratiatinj^ aspects. His brilliant ])rovvn eyes sparkled a confielent, buoyant gaze full into the heavy, lethargic countenance of the big man at the desk. " I have n't bothered you before," he said, tossing his gloves into his hat, and si>reading his frock-coat out by its silk lapels. He crossetl his legs, and sat back with a com- fortable smile. " I knew you were awfully busy— and I kept away as long as I could. Hut now— well, the truth is— I 'm in rather of a hole. 1 hope you don't mind my coming." " Why not at all," .said Thorpe, laconically. After a momentary pause he added : " The Marquis has just been consulting me about the postponement of the ainuial meet- ing. I suppose you agruc with us— that it would be better to ptit it oir. There 's really nothing to report. Of course, you kiiow more about tlie situation than he does —between otirselves. The shareholders don't want a meeting; it 's enough for them that their .shares are worth fifteen or twenty times what they i)aid for them. And certainly rcc don't need a njeeting. as things .stand now." "Ah yes -how do things .stand now?" a.skcd I.ord riowden, bri.skl> . " Well,"— Thorpe eyed his vi.sitor with a moody blank- ness of gaze, his chin once more buried in his collar— " well, everything is going all riglit. as far an I con s e. hnt, of course, these dealings in our .shares in the City have taken up all my lime— .so that I have n't been able to ^ive any attention to .starting up work in Mexico. That being the case, I .shall arrange to foot all the bills for this year's expenses -the rent, the Directors' fees and clerk-hire and so on— out of my own pocket, It comes, T!FF MARKKT-PLACE Dressed no ace was at ^ aspects, , buoyant of the big ossiti^ Ills out by its ith a coni- sy — and I the truth tuind my After a just been lual meet- be better )ort. Of 1 lie tloes ; want a ire worth in. And id now." ced lyord iy blank- collar — can s e. the City een able Mexico. the bills fi'i's and 249 all told, to about /:2,75o--without countintr my extra / 1,000 at- Mana-inK Director. I don't propose to ask for a penny of that, under the circumstance.s-and I '11 even pay the other expen.sus. So tiiat the Company is n't los- ing: a penny by our not gettin- to work at the development 01 the property. Ko one could ask anvthinj>- fairer than tliat.— And are your mother and .sister (piite well ? " " Oh, very well indeed, thanks." replied the other He relapsed abruptly into a silence which was plainly preoccu- pied. vSomething of the radiant cheerfulness with which hi.s lace had i)eamed seemed to have faded away. "I 'm in treaty for a hou.se and a moor in the Iligh- ands — Ihorpe went on, in a casual tone-" in fact I 'm hesitating between three or four places that all .seem to be pretty good -but I don't know whether I can get away much before the twentieth. I hope you can contrive to come while I 'm there. I .should like it very much if you would bring your mother and sister-and your brother too. r have a nephew about his age~a fine young fellow -who 'd be company for him. Why can't you say now that you '11 all come ? " Lord Plowden emerged from his brown study with the gleam of some new idea on his face. " I might bring my sistc'-." he .said. "My mother hates Scotland. She does n't .i about, either, even in Kngland. Hut I dare- say Winn.': would enjoy it immen.sely. She has a great opinion of you, you know." "I only .saw her that once." Thorpe remarked. Some tliought behind his wonls lent a musing effect to the tone in which they were uttered. TIr. brother's contemplative smile seemed a comment upon this tone. "Women nre curious creatures." he .said "They take fancies and di.slikes as .swiftly and irrespon.siblv ns cioud-snaaows si.ift and change on a mountain .side in nimi-« 'ban a peerage. Of courier t/?' """' °" ^ baronetcy or this martiage o2 "TToIIh ''"u'^ ^"^"^ »«"«on attract yo.i -1°;; a?lf ""'""« "''''^b may or may not but there ; hard V "nir" V""'" ^''^^' another,- =>y connectio^SrKsft: yS If "-'^'^ ^ ^^ shadow of some sucrth^rtth^f^V'^ f'' """ °"- «be brain ; therehad been a Ztnt-u: "r"^"'^°-° ■note, like a dream-phantom f" 7 '^^ ™"°"^'y -'=" existence-when he had dZ,, r^""' P'"''""^ ''ate of ber inheritance from longTh 3 of rb?" '' '"'""' "P» lation to half the peerage Ti! "°^'«"^". and her re- disliked the brotl Jr ofts laly:;;:;::i-,t^'-"^. "^ abrupt dec; 17 nothing in . «.l^4 U|^|, It. You shall have your 258 THE MARKET-PLACE vendor's shares, precisely c;s I promised you. I don't see how you can possibly ask for anything more." He looked at the other's darkling face for a moment, and then rosa with unwieldy deliberation. " If you 're so hard up though," he continued, coldly, "I don't mind doing this much for you. I '11 exchange the thousand vendor's shares you already hold— the ones I gave you to qualify you at the beginning— for ordinary shares. You can sell those for fifteen thousand pounds cash. In fact, I '11 buy them of you now. I '11 give you a cheque for the amount. Do you want it ? " Lord Plowden, red-faced and frowning, hesitated for a fraction of time. Then in constrained silence he nodded, and Thorpe, leaning ponderously over the desk, wrote out the cheque. His Lordship took it, folded it up, and put it in his pocket without immediate comment. " Then this is the end of things, is it ?" he asked, after an awkward silence, in a voice he strove in vain to keep from shaking. " What things ? " sai^ the other. Plowden shrugged r.u- hl;oulders, framed his lips to utter something whicli he '' "'"J ««" something of a grace wh,ch the man within assimilated and made his Xn pLpTe^^o^rd^ a^r X^:,^^' T'^' or later spoke of him to their womenkind wiH Tee t! „ significant reserve, i„ .hich trained womankind read ,' suggestion that the " Rubber King •■ drank a good deaf and was probably not wholly nice in his cups ^ '' ihis, however, could not be snid t^ ~..,i.,, %,;„. ,. • terestinginanyeyes. There wa;indeed"a-boutu\'uri:: 859 MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) I.I 14; |2.8 m m u 1^ l<>C 2.2 2.0 sss s 1.8 A APPLIED IN/HGE Inc SSSr. '65' ta«t Main Str««l Sr.S Woch»il«r, H*» York I4S08 USA '.^B {"6) 482 - OMO - Phont == {'16) ;M- S9a9 -raw T 260 THE MARKET-PLACE plication of a generous nature, or at the least of a blind side —and it is not unpleasant to discover these attributes in a new man who has made his half-million, and has, or may have, countless favours to bestow. It was as if his tongue instead of his eyes had uttered the exclamation— " Ah, then she has told you ! "—for Miss Madden took it as having been spoken. " I 'm not disposed to pretend that I 'm overjoyed about it, you know," she said to him bluntly, as their hands dropped, and they stood facing each other. " If I said I congratulated you, it would be only the emptiest form. And I hate empty forms." " Why should you think that I won't make a good hus- band ? ' ' Thorpe asked the question with a good-natured if peremptory frankness which came most readily to him in the presence of this American lady, herself so outspoken and masterful. "I don't know that I specially doubt it," she replied. " I suppose any man has in him the makings of what is called a good husband— if the conditions are sufficiently propitious." " Well then— what 'sthe matter with the conditions ? " he demanded, jocosely. Miss Madden shrugged her .shoulders slightly. Thorpe noted the somewhat luxuriant curves of these splendid shoulders, and the creamy whiteness of the skin, upon wliich, round the full throat, a chain of diamonds lay as upon satin- -and recalled that he had not seen her before in what he phrased to himself as so much low-necked dress. The deep fire-gleam in her broad plaits of hair gave a wonderful brilliancy to this colouring of brow and throat and bosom. He marvelled at himself for discover- ing only now that she also was beautiful— and then thrilled with pride at the thought that henceforth his life I blind side butes in a s, or may id uttered u ! "—for overjoyed , as their r. "If I emptiest good hus- i-natured ly to him •utspoken e replied. f what is ifficiently itions? " Thorpe splendid in, upon is lay as er before /v'- necked s of hair )rovv and discover- nd then ii his life I THE MARKET-PLACE 261 might be passed altogether among beautiful women, radi- ant n gems and costly fabrics, who would smile upon him at his command. ^ the eKp:rin,e„t. ■?' """"" "' ^""^ "™"^ ^-^ "'^- tativdv"''''T, *''„'' '"''" " '"""' '"'" h« ^''W. medi- tatively It 's all an experiment. Every marriage in the worid must be that-neither more nor less. ■ ■ out 72>- «r ^Perience of the ages against its coming out nght. She had turned to move toward a chair but looked now over her shoulder at him. •• Have you eve To™ Ufe '■"■"'' '° '°" ^" '"'"'"'^'>' •>='P»- -""s'l Upon reflection he shook his head. " I don't recall one on the spur of the minute," he confessed. •• Not the seen .l"?"' !!"" ''"" ''^'^ "''™' '" """^s. But I 've seen plenty where the couple got along together in a fnv wfof "■" °"^"^ »-' of «='y. without I notion of voLrlh ""P''='"'="""e-^- It '^ people who marry too young who do most of the fighting, I hnagine. After people have got to a sensible age, and know what they wan and what they can get along without, why theT there s no reason for any trouble, m don't start ou" with any school-boy and school-girl n.oonshine •• Oh, there 's a good deal to be said for tlie moonshine." she .nterrupted hin,, as .she .sank upou the .sofa. Why certainly," he assented, ann-ably, as he snxx) ook,,,g down at her. " The „,ore there is of it, the b^ ter--,f ,t comes naturally, and people know enough to r,!?nn !• ■"," " "'oonshine, and is n't the be-all and end-all of everything." mirth nnn/ ^ '''''' !"'7°" • '' '^''' ^^^^^" C"ed, with mirth and derision mingled in her laugh. 262 THE MARKET-PLACE " Don't you worry about me," he told her. " I 'm a good enough lover, all right. And when you come to that, if Edith is satisfied, I don't precisely see what " " What business it is of mine ? " she finished the sen- tence for him. " You ' re entirely right. As you say, if she 's satisfied, no one else has anything to do with it." " But have you got any right to assume that she is n't satisfied ? " he asked her with swift directness—" or any reason for supposing it ? " Miss Madden shook her head, but the negation seemed quahfied by the whimsical smile she gave him. " None whatever," she said— and on the instant the talk was ex- tinguished by the entrance of Lady Cressage. Thorpe's vision was flooded with the perception of his rare fortune as he went to meet her. He took the hand she offered, and looked into the smile of her greeting, and could say nothing. Her beauty had gathered to it' new forces in his eyes— forces which dazzled and troubled his glance. The thought that this exquisite being— this in- effable compound of feeling and fine nerves and sweet wis- dom and wit and loveliness— belonged to him seemed too vast for the capacity of his mind. He could not k-»n himself from trembling a little, and from diverting screen beyond her shoulder a gaze which he felt to ue overtly dinuned and embarrassed. " I have kept you waiting," she murmured. The soft sound of her voice came to his ears as from a distance. It bore an unfamiliar note, upon the strange- ness of which he dwelt for a detached instant. Then its meaning broke in upon his consciousness from all sides, and lighted up his heavy lace with the glow of a con- queror's self-centred smile. He bent his eyes upon her, and noted with a controlled exaltation how her glance in turn deferred to his, and fluttered beneath it, and shrank •. " I 'm a ou come to what " led the sen- you saj', if with it." It she is n't 5 — * ' or any ion seemed 1. " None ilk was ex- tion of his k the hand seting, and d to it new roubled his g — this in- sweet wis- seemed too I not k'=»*'n irting felt to ue > as from a e strange- Then its all sides, of a con- upon her, glance in tid shrank THE MARKET-PLACE 263 SHH hni? T'''^ ^''' ^'^ '^"^^^^'•^ ^"^ ^^ft^^ his head. Still holding her jewelled hand in liis, he turned and led her oward the sofa. Halting, he bowed with an ex J^ Sen 'e and r.' "^"'^'^ '' ""'' ^ ^^'^^"^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^f Challenge and of deprecation. Through the sensitized contact of the other hand, he felt that the woma^. he "e d entreat) The laugh he gave then seemed to dispel the awkwardness which had momentarily hung over the mocknig salutation. ^ ^^^ Miss Madden laughed too. "Oh. I surrender," she said. You drag congratulations from me " the effe'ct^of '';.•" '^'f '""' °' '^^^ ungracious speech had the effect of putting the party at its ease. Lady Cressaee seated herself beside her friend on the sofa, and getly ?u ness H 7 T"^ 'r"%'' '''' ^''' "^'''^ -^-^^^ -heer- Uilness. He took a slip of paper from his pocket to sun- port a statement he was - laking. ^ " I 'm forever telling you what a strain the City is on curi^ri "t". '""°"'" '^ ''''-" ^"^ '^"^^y I hadtl le h I J ti •? '" r"""' "^ ''^''' ^'^^^''''^' Here it IS. I had thirty callers. Of tho.se. how many do you appose came to see me on my own business ? Just eight That IS to say. their errands were about investments of aS axelr tl '' '"" "^"^^^' '^ '^' ^" -"rd ahont axes of their own to grind. All the rest made no I \e classified them, one by one. here shZ' of o!^''" r'" "''" "^'" '^^^° ^'^"^^^ "^^ to take shares of one sort or another, and I had to more or less listen to what thpv tried *r t- - • • • were lik^ ^u ~~'' "" ""^ ^"^'*' companies were like. They were none of them any good. E;ight 5^4 THE MARKfeT-PLACE different fellows came to me with schemes that have n't reached the company stage. One had a scheme for get- ting possession of a nigger republic in the West Indies by raising a loan, and then repudiating all the previous loans Another wanted me to buy a paper for him, in which he was to support all my enterprises. Another wanted to start a bank-I apparently to find the money, and he the brains. One chap wanted me to finance a theatrical syn- dicate-he had a bag full of photographs of an actress all eyes and teeth and hair, -and another chap had a scheme all worked out for getting a concession from Spain for one of the Caroline Islands, and putting up a factory therefor making porpoise-hide leather. " Then there were three inventors-let 's see, here they are-one with a coiled wire spring for scissors inside a pocket-knife, and one with a bottle, the whole top of which unscrews instead of having a cork or stopper, and one with an electrical fish-line, a fine wire inside the silk, you know which connects with some battery when a fish bites and rings a bell, and throws out hooks in various directions and does all sorts of things. " Well then, there was a man who wanted me to take the chairmanship of a company, and one who wanted me to guarantee an overdraft at his bank, and two who wanted to borrow money on stock, and one parson-fellow who tried to stick me for a subscription to some Home or other he said he had for children in the country He was the worst bounder of the lot. "Well, there 's twenty-seven people-and twenty of them strangers to me, and not worth a penny to me. and all trying to get money out of me. Is n't that a dog's life for one?" ^ ^^ " I don't know," said Miss Madden, contemplaiively A lady may have twice that number of callers in an It have n't me for get- : Indies by ious loans, which he wanted to uid he the trical syn- actress all I a vScheme in for one r there for here they J inside a > of which i one with ou know, ^ites, and irections, e to take anted me two who 3n-fellow le Home :ry. He renty of me, and a dog's laiively. ■3 in an THfi MARKET-PLACE 265 afternoon-quite as great strangers to all intents and pur- poses-and not even have the satisfaction of discovering that they had any object whatever in calling. At least your people had some motive : the grey matter in their brani was working. And besides, one of them might have had something to say which you would value. 1 don't think that ever happens among a lady's callers ; does it. -n words by opped and ^es to con- 'vhich had •roving in- cperienced ^ an acces- »ne of the lat letter, nker who I kind of d got the iiy shares ■t them — t present ly Chair- im as his that, by 1 the old c money ig price, carriage . do you »e. . . . wormed struck buy his THE MARKET-PLACE 267 It was all the shares, and save his firm, for letter that did it, mind you 1 " sile'!^L"Tt'f'd-'''i 'r^'r-^ "^"^^^^^ ^-^^ - --ked silence. The ladies looked at him and at each other but they seemed surprised out of their facility of comi n^i" ■111 this kind of flustered hn^Ti th^ a ^"'iimenc. dinner was a„nou,lc1r ' °" ™' "P"'^" ='"'* Miss Madden welcomed the diversion by rising with cTaredtith :r T-, " ' "" '="^^ "V-lf out, ' slel cT:^gTltTlTT''^ 'T'"'^ *''^ ™^- Lady to.en Ir cott:dT;?h7he°tS ^^'h^'^^ZsT At the httle table shining i„ the centre of the dark cool which stirred the iadpd air rr, 1 iresnness soeech T^.,^M 1^! ^ . ^ ' ^^""^ pleasanter than any Ihltn ^^??^''°^'^d"^tuitively country-ward where Ue long-needed rain would be dowering Uie landTcane with new hfe-where the earth at sunrise would be 'r^^^^^^ witn the perfumes of sweetest summer. They spoke o. ^^t't:^' """-^ -'thtbe,o„,i„,oft^rro;: ■■ Oh, when I get away "-said Thorpe, fervently " it seems to me that I don't want ever tocl^ back These last few weeks have eot terrihUr «. really-why shonid I come back^ I L? "'",!: ^"<^ .e.f the question-more toTay than ever befo™ '"' ord'"'' ever>.thi„g has been different today But if I °JZZ any genuine good out of my-mv'fort. -I ^^^fp^^ away from the City altogether sometime-and ^h;*;; 26s tHfi AtARkET-t>LACfi as I intend thev ^Lu k T ^ ' *^^^ ^^ worked pens will brL'^-n o ."' ^".^ °°'^^"^ unforeseen hap- The rain fiUs /e fuU of The cou„ ry^'^r '"".'''^.• come with me tomorrow or next dayl^d seT.t P n ?* £rt; • ,f if r^- 1 %r p^--p- ""t Tua^r-aL that ■^^•J!^:^? ^ ^' - •• Yo?are""aSt'tt7r"' " """"'""'^ MissMadden. rora.„;L:^----p-„:^^^^^^^^ me hfr^eoli^d' ^'' '*' "^ '""^^ " ^h. you don't know promise! ^'Btause' 1°'^ f'^^ '"f "'^ '<""^ "^^ mnst n't think I Z't v„ °"^''. ^""^ P'''"^*''^^'. yo« Tml tl^ .'- '"^ ~' i-x--^ o^ PerfeX" in b^a™^ at their lips, his tacitloa^ ' '"' " '""^^ "^ *"« ''i"* .-Oh, I think I do know yon," said Celia Madden, ire still open— —but after all, it for me. At er six weeks. 15th, and an- lother on Sep- ey 're worked iforeseen hap- isand pounds, good. Then 3d ! And for It 's like to- free already, ^ill you both the Pellesley 3hs it 's the rts of it are 1" liss Madden, ve looked to I don't know is look had actical, you when I see living proof larged with !0— "living n in beauty es accepted 3f the wine THE 'coRKV.H'.^'-Pa^esdS. ■OUNDS, AND CLOSE 1 Madden. THE MARKET-PLACE 269 them. But that IS n't a very uncommon quality What s uncommon in you-at least that is my reading-is some thing whjch according to circumstanL may be ni« o stands qmte apart from standards of morals or eSor the ordmary emotions. But I don't know wheSe ft k desirable for me to f^nt-A,- ;«f^ 4.1- • wuetner it is analysis." '° ^^'' extremely personal face wkh?; ^1" °"; ' '^^°'P" "^^^^ ^^^- He watched her lace with an almost excited interest cnL^^^^T^ ^^".''^^ ^^^ *^^' y°" possessed a capacity for Zt obe^?!' "P ""° "" -"P-^"- law-somethi:;g you The man smiled and nodded approvingly : " You Ve got me down fine," he said. «ou ve "I talk with a good deal' of confidence " she went n„ w.th a cheerless, ruminative little laugh " b^aTs^ V -I my own organisation that I an. describing ^oo The mfxTvr.^'':^ r^ itr " '^''''' ""'^^^J^ ^' ^^^ ^y own way in my teens— t"fn s™tT„d f ""' °™ P°"^^-°f ^°"- onl/of a cer- ^i with tw ""■^ '"'" P'""^^- B»t I k"ow what I M^'flf!"^- ' =P'-" trouble and misery abou nie-alv.a}. „f course ou a small scale. Then a group of ' THE MARKET-PLACE things happened in a kind «f „r =iimax-a„d it shook tL'^3el3eorr' '"^ P^'-f"' and my father died-^om' oth" f -^ ^^ ''""'"• • • . and luckiIyT4?st,rvr^''>'"g^ happened short, and take stock of mvi J ^T^ ^"""^^ '" ^'"P certain paths I wou d neveTse I'ot "'' "^' *^'^ ''-^ to it. But with yon-do 'ueef "^^'—and stick you when you are a n.ature ma, p'^"""' ""'^ """"^^ '» how unpleasant they are w 1 L ;f='P"'^»«^. "o matter will not be moved bv Hn-! " ""'«" ^'"^ "O"'- Vou yourself, or recons der yo"r m r/'' °l ''=" '" '"^'™^' «o-. Oh no f Po4r .SiTe'Sbr °"" '"" "^°'"- ^^o^^whon. you can ..i.:' ^0^^ t" Sui; J ^''°-^:^^^X';:-d^^:^^^^^^^^^ ■■ what Pray stop it ! " ^ ^assaudra you are, Celia ! ■'Th^tV.tkLdl'f'LrS.'.^^''' ^''■-''=' ^-e.y. tiofoflirponr^wS^h 'd'r^^'l "■ "-^ ~P'a- "■e others respectld 'r eflm I'sif '"" "' '""' '^^' ■'ome n>o,„e„ts, idly fingerht ' 7 t '"'"• "' =''' ^r staring at a blotch of Si, ^"'^ °" "'^ '""«, and ca.ue. upon the cloth ^"-'"'''^ through a de- ;vh;e\:t:";:eT,=S f»l ddiberation. • • The,e 's nl "^^'"^ "■'"' """'g'"- big as power_stren,th If " " h'f f. "" ™^'^ ^° everytliing else. But if vo, i ^''". '""■'= ""at. you can get it rusts and decays ™ .CtZ' "' r'"' ''°"'' "^ ''■ "^«' bred horse. You ca 't ke.n n ■" ^^ '""= " "'o^ugh- don't exercise it ^o^ lo^?.." ""^ '" "'^ ^'""e, If /ou He appeared to be commenting upou some illustration very painful My brother ngs happened 3ugh to stop It there were n— and stick •nly comes to es, no matter I now. You It to distrust new resolu- ur hands, if u to cruel e. " What are, Celia ! '. gravely. contempla- ' liim, that ^e sat for table, and )ugh a de- t 's worth thought- ■ world so ^ can get •^ it, theji horough- Ifyou istration THE MARKET-PLACE 2;i ihere was a case of it todav " i,« ' -j paused. ^*^' "« said, and then "Precisely," put {„ Miss Madden " Tt,» r . ., some Freuchwoman nf „.i, ""="• The fact that fore, was goi." o Li ^°" ^"^ "^^" ''^^rd be- at.e;uio„,\°::^ :'re':^tT'T''°"'°"^''"«'''^°" foo.ooo, an exercise nfJ,^" presented her with generou's side-M^ti I'e Zl! ,"'" '"^P™^ '" ^^ °" "■« serving of any intX T~TJ^"'''*;°'''=■ PoInt : if it had hapDened tL t / ''"^ ^ the produce an opoos^tetanre, L """"""'^ "''^"= "^""""^ '» been capable ^fuLrrn^"''"" ''^"' ^'"^ ^""'l '«™ as light a heart "^ ^^■°°° ^™>' '^^»"' ^im with just a -troftttrsrt^^frr^'-T™^"'- "^= "■ention. I was n't «ferri " to the T 7"' ^"'"^ '° portion. A youni. ,„.„ . ^ . ^ ^"^ "'"^ '"=■• carriage roon, all cock-a wLl r ' '° "' '«'a>-came into nTy that he had o^,!'r^2 I'^'V'""^''""" "^ "<"-" give it to hi„™am^-!!." "'" ■'" "'"■"^'J' •-"") I would hafbeX'.thX;ktfV,™"^T=' ""'^ '-^'>- «« discomfitur , and e ™ ,»„ '"^ "'""" ^°"' P'°«'den's tongue. It cos hh , ,. 7 . " -""'y "'^''"' »P"" Ws the while he , otd ed ihef '° ^"' ""^ "^"'«'™ "side, reared them'ehes ^„ \^'S"T'"» "'"■'^'' ''"'' s^'Meni; spoke, it w" . l,°r; : .cet '""■ •''"'™ "' '-' '- ■^>'t.\er nund, he sad lip-hfK- << tm much to it. The n,n„ , ^* ^^'^^^ ^'''s n't ,., . ^^'- man annoved «i« «n..._i . , «^« " t get what he came fbr-thatt al?'"""""""^"^ ^^ 272 THE MARKET-PLACE •; But he was entitled to get it ? >• asked Celia Madden said Xh^t^'^inZc: n "r-" w .„,,., to-^sr^Hat iti; oSri' «ve WnT/"^ "^"' "°" " "-t— d then lacX gave hira ^15,000 he was n't entitled to at all " I hardly see what it proves, then," Edith Cressare remarked, and the subject was dropped ^ Some two hours later, Thorpe took his departure It was not unfl he was getting into the hansom which had he had"noTf" ■ "'' " 'I =" °'"« <>— <> '° ^ n" 'h't he had not for a moment been alone with his betrothed Upon reflection as the cab sped smoothly forward ht seemed odd to him. He decided finally Lt S was from each other, in constrai.ied silence Edith C.essage rose at last, and took a few aimless steos w th her hands at her hair. "Well-I 'm emtorked- tt'Zf "^^' •' " ''' '-''• '-'— . almo^st prtt. " I don't at all know what to sav " h^^ ^«« replied, slowly. .■ I f,„ey that ^orexaggeratrmTdrs" frlglt'-ned •■ " °"'^ "*'' ' "■" l™"l'd-and a little " Oh, I am frightened too," said the other but with eagerness rather than trepidation in her voice ' ■■ Thl s why I d,d not give you the signal to leave us alone T could „ quae get up the nerve for it. But would you believe it ?-that is one of the charms of the thing There elia Madden. ill— no," he strictly what mised him — ill I actually 1." th Cressage parture. It 1 which had to him that 3 betrothed. )rward, this : there was > which he fton Street ces averted iless steps, nbarked — »t provoca- :ompanion te my dis- ced disap- iid a little but with "That is alone. I rauld you :. There THE MARKET-PLACE ,^, you ? • ■ " '^""■^-yo" can- 1 understand that, can said i;;"Se„;;'":i' '"■ "^^"-"■^ - """--"<'." people, t>,e n.u/^:,,'''ZrTl::t/ '"■" """°'' ^^:i<::z:.^z:2^ --e, t,.at ,„„ p.. ■■•fc? The s'ob ' a, 5;;;.^, :,f' ^- 'rr ''■"■^ '■■ i- »ern,ons at her-they did ft i„ , ?l ■''"■ "'"' P'-^''^^-'^ now " " ^ " '" '"=■• ''fe'""e ; they do it tl.e energy o'her ZZ'TCtw^'T'^''' " ^""'^ well; I don't criticize her T „ ""^ '"" f°'' '■^'- "oth- about her U.,i„, rrn 'y. Yorseri t.^r" ""^ '" """" liberal view. One nnVhf .,1, "",.'"''=''" extremely had been one of her I "dfe b T "'" '' '"°''^- ""t if I rine Seton-and si e Ind t^i "i T ^"'"'^-^-y Cathe- r should have Co feirf t^ T'" '"= •■"'°"' ""I """k missivings." ^ '" '""'" forebodings-son,e little IMith 'slv^ 'ritio,','? ,™''^ """^ ™"''' >'-- -i" ? ■■ fident voicf ,r 't^rn^f^; «'-™;s face and a con- would have answered on ^ m T"'^ '"""'P''- " She I 1,.,.. ., ""fWered jou : My dearest irirl. all m„ i:f. ••;;- .v.. waat „ti.er people told n,e to do7" I„' ;^ J .ji^JfTiwiiiiiiii, ii^tTwaryg^T^w..^ —-rrrw 274 THE MARKET-PLACE childhood I was given iu marriage to a criminal idiot. In my premature widowhood I was governed by a com- mittee of scoundrels of both sexes until another criminal idiot was imposed upon me as a second husband. My own personality has never had the gleam of a chance. I have never yet done any single thing because I wanted to do it. Between first my politician-mother and her band of tonsured swindlers, and then ray cantankerous brother and his crew of snarling and sour-minded preachers, and all the court liars and parasites and spies that both sides surrounded me with, I have lived an existence that is n't life at all. I purport to be a woman, but I have never been suffered to see a genuine man. And now here u one— or what I think to be one— and I 'm given to under- stand that he is a pirate and a murderer and an unspeak- able ruffian generally— but he takes my fancy, and he has beckoned to me to come to him, and so you will kindly get me my hat and jacket and gloves.' T/iai 's what she would have said to you, my dear." " And I "—said Celia, rising after a moment's pause, and putting her hand upon Edith's arm—" I would have answered, ' Dearest lady, in whatever befalls, I pray you never to forget that I am to the end your foud and devoted and loyal servant. ' ' ' iminal idiot, ed by a com- ther criminal isband. My a chance, I use I wanted md her band :rous brother eachers, and at both sides ce that is n't have never now here h en to under- an unspeak- ■, and he has : will kindly i 's what she ent's pause, would have , I pray you and devoted CHAPTER XIX AUGUST wore itself out in parched tedium, and a Sep- tember began which seemed even more unbearable in town,— and still Thorpe did not get away from London. So far as the payment of an exorbitant rent in advance, and the receipt of innumerable letters from a restless and fussy steward whom he had not yet seen, went as evidence, he knew himself to be the tenant in possession of a great shooting in Morayshire. He had several photographs of what was called the lodge, but looked like something be- tween a mansion and a baronial castle, on the mantel of the Board Room. The reflection that this sumptuous residence had been his for a month, and that it daily stood waiting for him, furnished and swept and provisioned for his coming, did nothing to help the passing of time in the hot, fagged City. More than once he had said resolutely that, on the morrow, or at the worst the next day, he would go— but in the event he had not gone. In the last week of August he had proceeded to the length of sending his niece and nephew Northward, and shutting up the house in Ovington Square, and betaking himself to the Savoy Hotel. This had appeared at the time to be almost equivalent to his getting away himself,— to be at least a first stage in the progress of his own journey. But at the hotel he had stuck fast,— and now, on the tenth of Sep- tember, was no nearer the moors and the deer-forest than he had been a month before. A novel sense of loneliness,— of the fatuity of present 375 276 THE MARKET-PLACE existence —weighed grievously upon him. The ladies of Grafton Street had left town upon a comprehensive itinerary of visits which included the Malvern country, and a ducal castle in Shropshire, and a place in West- moreland. There was nothing very definite about the date of their coming to him in Scotland. The lady who had consented to marry him had, somehow, omitted to promise that she would write to him. An arrangement existed, instead, by which siie and his niece Julia were to correspond, and to fix between themselves the details of the visit to Morayshire. Thorpe hardly went to the point of annoyance with this arrangement. He was conscious of no deep impulse to write love-letters himself, and there was nothing in tlie situation which made his failure to receive love-letters seem unnatural. The absence of moonshine, at least during this preliminary season, had been quite taken for granted between them, and he did not complain even to himself. There was even a kind of proud satisfaction for him in the thought that, though he had all but completed the purchase of the noble Pellesley estate for Edith Cres- sage, he had never yet kissed her. The reserve he im- posed upon himself gave him a certain aristocratic fineness in his own eyes. It was the means by which he could feel himself to be most nearly her equal. But he remained very lonely in London, none the less. It is true that a great deal of society was continually offered to him, and even thrust upon him. In the popular phrase, London was empty, but there seemed to be more people than ever who desired Mr. Storm ont Thorpe's presence at their dinner-tables, or their little theatre or card or river parties. He clung sullenly to his rule of going nowhere, but it was not so simple a matter to evade the civilities and importunities of those who were stopping The ladies omprehensive i^ern country, ace in West- ite about the [^he lady who V, omitted to arrangement Julia were to the details of loyance with deep impulse othing in the e love-letters ine, at least lite taken for plain even to itisfaction for ut completed r Edith Cres- serve he im- ratic fineness ich he could he remained 5 continually 1 the popular d to be more nt Thorpe's e theatre or > his rule of tter to evade ere stopping THE MARKET-PLACE 27; at the hotel, or who came there to waylay him at the entrance, or to encounter him in the restaurant. lie could not always refuse to sit down at tables when attract- ively-dressed and vivacious women made room for him or to hnger over cigars and wine with their husbands and escorts later on. An incessant and spirited court was paid to him by many different groups of interested people who were rarely at the pains to dissemble their aims. He formed a nianner for the reception of these advances, compounded of joviahty, cynicism, and frank brutality, which nobodv to h,s face at least, resented. If women winced under his mocking rudenesses of speech and smile, if men longed to kill him for the cold insolence of his refusal to let them inside his guard, they sedulously kept it from him. The consciousness that everybody was afraid of him.-that everybody would kneel to him, and meekly take insult and Ignominy from him, if only hope remained to them of getting something out of hiin,-hardened like a crust upon his mind. It was impossible to get a sense of companionship from people who cnnged to him, and swallowed his affronts and cackled at his jokes with equal docility. Sometimes he had a passing amusement in the rough pleasantries and cruelties which they drew from him! There vvere two or three bright Jewish women, more gayly clever and impudent, perhaps, than beautiful, with whom he found It genuine fun to talk, and concerning whom he was per- petually conceiving projects which could not have been discussed with their husbands, and as perpetually doing notliing to test their feasibility. But'these diversioi^! V ere in their essence unsubstantial. There was not even he semblance of a real friendship among them.-and lone- iiness uecame aii increasing burden. 278 THE MARKET-PLACE His sister at the old book-shop exasperated him nowa- days to a degree which often provoked within him the resolution to have done with her. He had a score of pro- jects for her betterment, each capable of as many varia- tions and eager adaptations to suit her fancy, but to them all and sundry she opposed a barrier of stupidly passive negation. There was nothing she wanted done for her. She would not exchange the work she had been brought up in for a life of idleness. She did not want, and would not know what to do with, a bigger shop than she had. An augmentation of her capital would be of no use, because there was no i;oom in the crowded little shop for a larger stock than it contained. She was entirely satis- fied with the dingy home overhead, and declined to think even of moving elsewhere. Over and over again she met his propositions with a saying which he could recall having particularly hated on their father's lips, — " It 's ill teach- ing an old dog new tricks." ' ' You ought to have them taught you with ^ stick, ' ' he had told her roundly, on the last occasion. She had merely shrugged her gaunt shoulders at him. " You think you can bully everybody and make them crawl to you, — but there 's no good your trying it on with me," she had told him, and he had pushed his way out of the shop almost stamping his feet. It was clear to him at that moment that he would never darken her door again. Yet now, on this afternoon of the tenth, as he lounged with a cigar and a City paper in his apartment at the hotel after luncheon, wondering whether it were too hot to issue forth for a walk to the Park, the irrelevant idea of going round to see his sister kept coming into his mind. He seated himself and fastened his attention upon the paper, — but off it slipped agaiu to the old book-shop, and to l*i' i liim nowa- tiin him the score of pro- many varia- but to them idly passive Dne for her. een brought want, and top than she )e of no use, ttle shop for itirely satis- led to think :ain she met ecall having 's ill teach- itb u. stick," ders at him. make them g it on vi^ith his way out clear to him :n her door he lounged at the hotel hot to issue ea of going mind. He 1 the paper, iiop, and to AN OLD MAN . . HAD HF.KN ALLOWED TO ENTEU TIIK RnOM UN A\NOUNrED."-/'«4^. 37^. . „.,-., . . -J. . I tfi u THE MARKET-PLACE 279 that curious, cross-grained figure, its mistress. He abandoned himself to thinking about her— and discovered that a certain unique quality in her challenged his admira- tion. She was the only absolutely disinterested person he knew— the only creature in the world, apparently, who did not desire to make something out of him. She was not at all well-ofif,— was indeed rather poor than other- wise,— and here was her only brother a millionaire, and in her dumb way she had a sisterly affection for him, and yet she could not be argued or cajoled into touching a penny of his money. Surely there could be no other woman like her. Thorpe realized that it was a distinction to have such a sister,— and behind this thour^^ht rose obscurely the sug- gestion that there must be wonderful blood in a race which had produced such a daughter. And for that mat- ter, such a son too ! He lifted his head, and looked abstractedly before him, as if he were gazing at some apotheosis of himself in a mirror. He beheld all at once something concrete and personal obtruded into the heart of his reverie, the sight of which dimly astounded him. For the moment, with opened lips he stared at it,— then slowly brought himself to compre- hend what had happened. An old man had by some over- sight of the hotel servants been allowed to enter the room unannounced. He had wandered in noiselessly, and had moved in a purblind fashion to the centre of the apart- ment. The vagueness of the expression on his face and of his movements hinted at a vacant mind or too much drink,— but Thorpe gave no thought to either hypothesis. The face itself— no— yes— it was the face of old Tavender. " In the name of God ! What are you doing here ? " Thorpe gasped at this extraordinary apparition. Still 28o :i I i .''HE MARKET I'LACE starinK. he began u, push back his chair and put his weight upon his feet. ^ ^ •' WeU-Thorpe "-the other began, thrusting forward te "af i °f .f--^^^ ;- spectacles-- so tt is you or^t. Ihi. pi^ce has got so many turns and twists to Th2e' ^^°^ ^f ^:^"« •' " ^"terposed the bewildered took tL 1 u'T. '° ^'' ^'''' ^^ n^echanically ' Wh • u"', ''^''^' ''^" °^^^^ ^^^ ^^^tended to him What m hell "-he began, and broke off again The aronm of alcohol on the air caught his sense and l^s m:nd stopped at the perception that Tavender wa mo re or less drunk. He strove to spur it forward, to co npe t to encompass the meanings of this new crisis, but almost III vain. Hov„. "^ '" ^°"'^°" ^ '" "'"'^^ =^^ ">='" you. now are j'ou, anyway ? " 1, " "f.','"J''' ^°" ''"'"'^ "^'^ ''O' ? Wlien did voa <.et here?" Thorpe put the questions automatically 4 self-control was returning to him ; bis capable brain di""™"' ■"" ""'"' ^"■"^"•"■= "ke'discipn": " Wh5' I guess I owe it all to you," replied Tavender Traces of the old Quaker effect which had been so char there shone a new assurance on his benignant, rubicund face. Prosperity had visibly liberalized a„d enheartened h.m. He shook Thorpe's hand again. - Yes s ir-k must have been all through you ! " he repeated ' " I ,,o my cable three weeks ago-' Hasten to London, urgm busmess expense,, and liberal fee guaranteed, RuSber Consols '-that what the cable said, that is, the first did you g-et TilK ^rARKET-^I up one — and of course vrm v« ^i 'l.»e rubber Z^e aL "' 'T".""" '■'"™''"^^'' '"- 'o to you ? " ' ' ^'"^ ^ ''"" ' Jou see I owe it all tli='t 's all ri.in T - '' "" '"^ '•^P'i^J ■■ " Oh- youalo,," a' Isovou''"'' °"' ""'^^^ '° ''-ave helped Peo,.)., eh? VV'ellthat rr7'''"°r'"^"'^''^^C„„fols '.aye -: ..« .„, ^.e^f you ifn^d ■''"' '^"' ^'^^ ^ ^- ^'''^^Z^Jr^Z^^ -"■•".. My to London together ' ' ^ ™^- ^^^ ^^^me up so;;.'':^::':'';:::;'::';;"^--''^ -.nething troubl d ht ^fd ITl' °' '"""^ f°^^°«™ brother-i„,aw 1„ the rubbrtu^L:: ""''"""• " '^ >'°" •■ -e d^t" ;r ,;"<;''2; -■"--" lavender, bea„,i„„y man -„ the nCn j "sfef ™' f whole affair than^th^ 'ell me anything aboitt the hn '°''='^-'^"' ^^ <^o»U n't =ent for, or anyU.ln^ • '^"^"■^■^'--''at it was I M been " But he— he knew vom m k commented upon brief reflection "" ""^ '°^ '" ^^^P^ .< ^f-'; ^^" ^^"t the second cable himself " What second cable ? ' ' " Why it was the next dav — u s^n^e night, and not deh'vered ;;' "'"f^^'*^ ^^« «ent that other cable, this Jme from ^v h li """^^'~~^ ^^^ ^"- ^' --ble him What sh ri TJi'd o"" h'":' ^^"^"^^ "^^ course he knew all about ,>k. ""^ '^^^""- ^c of He 's a ..rious sort ^l"^::;;^:^, '' ^^^ ^^ ^^'^^ . ^^^t how is he mixed up in it ?- 7 . ^ impatiently. ^ ^^ ' ^^emanded Thorpe, ■ - ., ... .e.dy as i ean figure it out. he works for one 282 TTTE MARKET-rT,ACE of the men that 's at the head of this rubber company. It appears that he happened to j5how this man— he 's a man of title, by the way— a letter I wrote to him last spring, when I got back to Mexico—and so in that way this man, when he wanted me to come over, just told GafFerson to cable to me." " Gafferson," Thorpe repeated, very slowly, and with almost an effect of listlessness. He was conscious of no surprise ; it was as if he had divined all along the sinister shadows of Lord Plowden and Lord Plowden's gardener, lurking a the obscurity behind this egregious old ass of a Tavender. "He 's a tremendous horticultural sharp," said the other. " Probably you 've heard tell of him. He 's taken medals for new flowers and things till you can't rest. He 's over at—what do you call it ?— the Royal Aquarium, now, to see the Dahlia Show. I went over there with him, but it did n't seem to be my kind of a show, and so I left him there, and 1 'm to look in again for him at 5.30. I 'm going down to his place in the country with him tonight, to meet his boss— the noble- man I spoke of." " That 's nice," Thorpe commented, slowly. " I envy anybody who can get into the country these days. But how did you know I was here ? ' ' " The woman in the book-store told me— I went there the first thing. You might be sure I 'd look you up. Nobody was ever a better friend than you 've been to me, Thorpe. And do you know what I want you to do ? I want you to come right bang out, now, and have a drink with me." " I was thinking of something of the sort my.self," the big man replied. " I '11 get my hat, and be with you in a minute." ompany. It -he 's a man 1 last spring, ay this man, GafFerson to ly, and with iscious of no I the sinister 's gardener, us old ass of 3," said the lim. He 's II you can't — the Royal I went over ly kind of a lok in again place in the —the noble- r. "I envy ; days. But r went there )ok you up. bt'L'n to me, »u to do ? I lave a drink ny.self," the with you in THE MARKET-PLACE 283 frown of% ? ^" relinquished his countenance to a frown of fierce perple.Uy. More tlmn a minute passed in th s cowlnig preoccupation. Then his face ith ened "Come along," he said, jovially. "We 'U have 1 ^nuk downstairs, and then we'll drive up .0 Ha^c^-er Sq^re and see .f we can't find a friend of mine at Ws A iti rilr ■ '""k-notes in exchange for a cheque. A ttle later, a hansom de|,osite;.>nt— ^i.^^ . Thorpe presently made an excuse for taking Kcrvick 284 THE MARKET-PLACE apart. " I brought this old jackass here for a purpose," he said in low, gravely inaiidatory tones. " He thinks he 's got an appointment at 5.30 this afternoon— but he 's wrong. He has n't. He 's not going to have any ap- pointment at all— for a long time yet. I want you to get him drunk, there where he sits, and then take him away with you, and get him drunker still, and then take a train with him somewhere— any station but Charing Cross or that line— and 1 don't care where you land with him— Scotland or Ireland or France— whatever you like. Here 's some money for you— and you can write to me for more. I don't care what you say to him— make up any yarn you like— only keep him pacified, and keep him away from London, and don't let a living soul talk to him —till I give you the word. You '11 let me know where you are. I '11 get away now— and mind. General, a good deal depends on the way you please me in this thing." The soldier's richly-florid face and intent, bulging blue eyes expressed vivid comprehension. He nodded with eloquence as he slipped the notes into his trousers pocket. " Absolutely," he murmured with martial brevity, from under his white, tight moustache. With only a vague word or two of meaningless ex- planation to Tavender, Thorpe took his departure, and walked back to the hotel. From what he had learned and surmised, it was not difficult to put the pieces of the puzzle together. This ridiculous old fool, he remembered now, had reproached himself, when he was in England be- fore, for his uncivil neglect of his brother-in-law. By .some absurd chance, this damned brother-in-law happened to be GalTerson. It was clear enough that, when he re- turned to Mexico, Tavender had written to Gaffenson, exolainintr the iinpvnppff»H rymuiit^m nf Utxai,yoL'a ,i,u;^t, u,..\ THE ^rARKET-PLACE 285 mysterio "y^ che'h ^f .""Puffed and then mentioned fhnf ,„ > , "" '^'■^"''*- ''^ ""ad clearly RubbeT Celt 'pro': t; T ."It'' '°, '^''°" r°" "- rr^nf^4-i • f'^i'^iiy, ana Jiacl said enoueh else tn rerd'titr!;r:rVo' thfr%™-v^'"''"^' »'"^' ™" -easy. O^:^^:^-^^^^^^^;. t. t.ie Company, j^j 3,,„,„ ,,; t„.^ , "' "/"f <" Plowden n,edi.atiMg npon it, l.ad seen a ™ o ie „;::, Au ...is ... a. o,n.io„:rr;r :re":r "■^='^°"- tJut a weapon for what ? Tl,,^v».„ .1 • «... :fd tlr^;;^^^™^;:^"!. r'^"^"-': »o„.ehow ,0 connect then.selves w t, ^ ubwT "Z "o„:dl't :, r'""!'"'"" '■'"' '■°"'^'- -sa.t m'-i : He su.i,ea wl.n Ue reached thirconclul^io^.-^rt^su:: 'H 286 THE MARKET-PLACE f prising and confusing a matronly lady into whose correct face lie chanced to be looking at the instant — and turning slowly, continued his walk. At the office of the hotel, he much regretted not having driven instead, for he learned that Semple had twice tele- phoned from the City for him. It was late in the after- noon — he noted with satisfaction that the clock showed it to be already past the hour of the Tavender-Gafferson appointment, — but he had Semple's office called up, upon the chance that someone might be there. The clerk had not consumed more than ten minutes in the preliminaries of finding out that no one was there — Thorpe meanwhile passing savage connnents to the other clerks about the British official conception of the telephone as an instru- ment of di.scipline and humiliation — when Semple himself appeared in the doorway. The Broker gave an exclamation of relief at seeing Thorpe, and then, apparently indifferent to the display of excitement he was exhibiting, drew him aside. " Come somewhere where we can talk," he whispered nervously. Thorpe had never seen the little Scotchman in such a flurry. " We '11 go up to my rooms," he said, and led the way to the lift. Upstairs, Semple bolted the door of the sitting-room be- hind them, and satisfied him.«elf that there was no one in the adjoining bedroom. Then, unburdening himself with another sigh, he tossed aside his hat, and looked keenly up at the big man. " There 's the devil to pay," he said briefly. Tliorpe had a fleeting pride in the lethargic, composed front he was able to present. " All right," he said with forced placidity. "If he 's got to be paid, we '11 pay him." nc CUUuUucu, lu siuum: a, iiLtic THE MARKET-PLACE 287 " It 's nah joke, ' ' the other hastened to warn him "I have It from two different quarters. An application has been made to the Stock Exchange Committee, this after- Tfr'!^ 'T""^'"^ ^"^ ''°P °"^ ^"^^"^^^' °" the ground 01 traud. It comes verra straight to me " Thorpe regarded his Broker contemplatively. The news fitted with precisioii into what he had previously known • It was rendered altogether harmless by the precautious he had already taken. ' ' Well, keep your hair on, " he said quietly. " If there were fifty applications, they would lA matter the worth of that soda-water cork. Won't you have a drink ? " ^ Semple, upon reflection, said he would. The unmoved equipoise of the big man visibly reassured him. Pie sipped at his bubbling tumbler and smacked his thin ifps. Man I ve had an awful fright," he said at last, in the tone of one whose ease of mind is returning. "I gave you credit for more nerve," observed the other, eyeing him in not unkindly flishion over his -bss You 've been so plumb full of sand all the whrie-l did 11 t think you 'd weaken now. Why, we 're within two days of home, now-and for you to get rattled at this late hour— you ought to be ashamed of yourself " The Scotchman looked into the bottom of his glass as he turned it thoughtfully round. " I 'm relieved to see the way you take it," he said, after a pause. With in- creased hesitation he went diylv on : "I Ve never en quired minutely into the circumstances of the flotation It has not seemed to be my business to do so. and upon advice I may say that the Committee would not hold that that pZt""^ ^"''"^''' ^^^^ ^°''^'°" '' '^'^^^ ^^'^'' "P°" " Oh. perfectly," Thorpe assented. " It could n't Dos- ha any of your business— either then si now. He M.-»«.^....- lll'l^'Jii^i'jj^, 288 THE, MARKET-PLACE gave a significant touch of emphasis to these last two words. " Precisely," said Semple, with a gknce of swift com- prehension. " You must not think I am asking any in- trusive questions. If you tell me that— that there is no ground for uneasiness—I am verra pleased indeed to ac- cept the assurance. That is ample information for mv purposes." " You can take it from me," Thorpe told him He picked up a red book from a side table, and turned over Its pages with his thick thumb. " This is what Rule 59 says, ' ' he went on : '^ ' JVo application which has for its object to anmd any bargain in the Stock Exchanoe shall be entertained by the Committee^ unless upon a spcdfic allega- tion of fraud or zvilful misrepresentation. ' Shall be enter- tained, d' ye see ? They can't even consider anything of the sort, because it says ' specific,' and I tell you plainly that anything ' specific ' is entirely out of the question. ' ' The Broker lifted his sandy brows in momentary appre- hension. " If it turns upon the precise definition of a word," he remarked, doubtingly. "Ah, yes,— but it does n't," Thorpe reassured him " See here-I '11 tell you something. You 're not asking any questions. That 's as it should be. And I 'm not forcing information upon you which vou don't need in your business. That 's as it should be, too. But in be- tween these two, there 's a certain margin of facts that there 's no harm in your knowing. A scheme to black- mail me is on foot. It 's rather a fool-scheme, if you ask me, but it might have been a nuisance if it had been sprung on us unawares. It happened, however, that I twigged this scheme about tvAo hours ago. It was the damnedest bit of luck you ever heard of- Vou don't have luck." out in Spmni^ ot.n rec!atively, these last two : of swift corn- asking any in- hat there is no d indeed to ac- nation for my old him. He d turned over is what Rule hich has for its change shall be specific allega- hall be enter- ■r anything of 11 you plainly ^e question." lentary appre- efinition of a THE MARKET-PLACE 289 'Jther men have luct v^„ 1, don't give it a name ' ^^^ something else-I Thorpe smiled upon him, and went on "T. • a- anyway, i went out anH t a ? ^ twigged it, spike through that fool !oh T '^'" ^^"^^^^^ ^"^d of Tomorrow f c^rtaif In "1^^'""^' '^^^""^^ '''^ ^^^^t. a *_ercain man will cnmp fr> «,^ i. -r almost tell you the kind of neck ti^L 11 ' \ '""^^ put up his bluff to me and T lliJl w ^"^^"^"^ ^^ '" then I '11 let the 0^7'^ ^"^ ^'"' 0"t-and then- " Ave ' . in « f ""P °"' ^^°°^ ""der him." ^ Aje! said Semple, with relish, fetay and dine with me tonis-ht " Ti,^ suggested, "and we '11 I /'^^ ' ^IT"^^ ""Pulsively ward. There 's a tLi^ "'^ ^"^'^ ^^ after- Canterbur^'VarLe f r thhik'^^^^^^^^^^^ ^"^^ ^^ ^^^ damned good Yo„ IT. , 1 . ^^^ "^"'^ ^^"^hat 's blab to Hsten to rfe Sd "r^'^'^f ' "^' "° ^---"^ Peop^. that kee; thel'motSs shu^t ''' ^'^ "^^^ ^ ^^^"^ «^ Aye," observed Semple again. assured him. re not asking A.nd I 'm not lon't need la '. But in be- of facts that 2nie to black- e, if you ask it had been /ever, that I It was the iprec'atively. imti CHAPTER XX IN the Board Room, next day, Thorpe awaited the coming of Lord Plowden with the serene confidence of a prophet who not only knows that he is inspired, but has had an ilHcit glimpse into the workings of the machinery of events. He sat motionless at his desk, like a big spider for whom time has no meaning. Before him lay two newspapers, folded so as to expose paragraphs heavily indicated by blue pencil-marks. They were not financial journals, and for that reason it was improbable that he would have seen these paragraphs, if the Secretary of the Company had not marked them, and brought them to him. That official had been vastly more fluttered by them than he found it possible to be. In slightly-varying language, these two items embedded in so-called money articles reported the rumour that a charge of fraud had arisen in connection with the Rubber Consols corner, and that sensational dis- closures were believed to be impending. Thorpe looked with a dulled, abstracted eye at these papers, lying on the desk, and especially at the blue pencil-lines upon them, as he pondered many things. Their statement, thus scattered broadcast to the public, seemed at once to introduce a new element into the situa- tion, and to leave it unchanged. That influence of .some sort had been exerted to get this story into these papers, it did not occur to him for an instant to doubt. To his view, all things that were ptit into papers were put there 2QO e awaited the •ene confidence is inspired, but rkings of the pider for whom ^o newspapers, ■f indicated by d journals, and ould have seen Company had . That official lan he found it age, these two ;s reported the in connection sensational dis- d eye at these y at the blue many things. to the public, into the situa- luence of .some these papers, ioubt. To his THE MARKET-PLACE 301 street, he was Drofom,m "^'"''^^ °' ^leet of them werricyn a,'' 'fC:'"' '"'.'"^ ™P-^-°- seemed unlikely to Sm thaler /pf"'°"' ''°"^^"' i' the insertion of tLeTunt! ^"''t ^'^den had secured fathom that .ouZ:.T^^^ ^^ ^"^ ^°"" served by premature publi^itroftWsrd™ ""' ^ of the " comer > ■ „ "° , '^- There were left in the Krio '= corner now only two victims r. . ■ ^ Aronson. They owed ,/ . .T '^'""^■— Rostocker and number of causes T„ '""^ """'l'™'* differentiation to a bein^ bet' v^eTthen / " ^uT ""^ '^^'^^ »="«^^ "f «ock were men of larrer fS; 1 ? 7 ~"" '"" e^' ^ 'hey therefore could ^.tlfs'lr ""^ " "'°'''^'" ■^"'' was fortunate for hh , ,de the ri'"''"'' '°"«^^' ^ "'■" the two men against who uTWe^'n'""' '^^ ""''^ seemed able to n.ain.ain its:;^ mo "Ssh/""'"' ^"'"^^ diffe^L^^rSriel'Tf •:' ''''f' '^'" -'^'^'' ■" On the morrow, theTefth';?.:"; T'^"^''' '^'«5'°-' plan to allow then, to buy in t1, f r ' 'I ^"^ '^''"'P^'^ ^" or ^23 per si are J, "■"' ""^' "^'^''^d, at nearly i^oo^ mtr^^^"t "°"" '^"^^ f™™ them they could, and 3d if" cestr^' lb"''""'' ""' ransom for their final p-^L r ^ '^ ""^ enormous because it wa „o so ceTaiuZt n'' '°"\"'' ''"''y partly because he was ,^Hnf»^ ., "'^ '^°"''' P'-^^ "«'■•«=. strain of the buwl T . T' ' 'P"'''' ''"'' ''■'•^'' of the escape. "" ''^ ^""^ *"ded to pennit this Dk^Lf^'""' '"""• ''™'''™'-' that thev n„ their .ide h,1 planned to escape without payius auv fi„",7 !"«> 'ug auj hual ransom at all. ■ T-...,^!^.,..».,-.,, | nn |^^^ Mm 292 THE MARKET-PLACE I That was clearly the meaning of these paragraphs, and of the representations which had yesterday been made to the Stock Exchange Committee. He had additional knowledge today of the character of these representations. Nothing definite had been alleged, but some of the mem- bers of the Committee had been informally notified, so Semple had this morning learned, that a specific charge of fraud, supported by unanswerable proof, was to be brought against the Rubber Consols management on the morrow. Thorpe reasoned out now, step by step, what that meant. Lord Plowden had sought out Rostocker and Aronson, and had told them that he had it in his power ignominiously to break the " corner." He could hardly have told them the exact nature of his power, be- cause until he should have seen Tavender he did not himself know what it was. But he had given them to understand that he could prove fraud, and they, scenting in this the chance of saving ^^200, 000, and seeing- that time was so terribly short, had hastened to the Committee- men with this vague declaration that, on the morrow, they could prove — they did not precisely know what. Yes — plainly enough — that was what had happened. And it would be these two Jew ' ' wreckers, ' ' eager to invest their speculative notification to the Committee with as much of an air of formality as possible, who had caused the allusions to it to be published in these papers. Thorpe's lustreless eye suddenly twinkled with mirth as he reached this conclusion ; his heavy face brightened into a grin of delight. A vision of Lord Plowden's ab- surd predicament rose vividly before him, and he chuckled aloud at it. It seemed only the most natural thing in the world that, at this instant, a clerk should open the door and nod with meaning to the master. The visitor whoni he had aragraphs, and r been made to bad additional epresentations. le of the mem- ily notified, so specific charge )of, was to be igement on the by step, what out Rostocker ; had it in his r." He could his power, be- ler he did not given them to they, scenting nd seein[- that the Coramittee- e morrow, they ^ what. Yes — )ened. And it ager to invest mittee with as vho had caused papers. led with mirth face brightened Plowden's ab- nd he chuckled % in the world le door and nod r whom he had THE MARKET-PLACE 293 I'rrived ' Th''"^'' '" ''r ""^^^ °«^^^ ^^ --P^cted, had Plowden elte^e^^ ^""^^ '''' ''''''''' '^ ^^"^^^ ^^^^ ^-^ whlrf htat a?Js 2k '^ •" ' '' -''' ^ ^ '^^ ^-- trayed 'upon'th' ^-"^ "^^""^ -^« ^^^^ ^^ had been be- him H?T i '"f^"' '"^P"^^^ ^"^ ^^ther confused Z;iH T ^''" ^^'""S^'^'^' ^^'^' ^s to how he should receive Plowden, but certainly a warm iovklitv bad not occurred to him as appropriate ' '''' 1 he nobleman was even more taken aback. He stared momentarily at the big man's be.ning mask fndlhen wi h nervous awkwardness, executed aperies of ehanS m his own facial expression and demeanour. He fluffed red, opened his lips to say " Ah ! " and then twisted'hem ^^'^S' T'^^^^ ^^^"^^ -^^^^- ^^^^ wi.. ve^y bright-eyed iiitentness at Thorpe as I,p advanced, and so,newhat spasmodically p„ro,n ms von' ^r"^ '° ■^^■■P" ""' •" ''' 'his hand. • ■ How are Tw histX"'^' ■" ^ '""^^ "■^^'^^-'" ™-' -1 "''^ I-ord Plowden iidgeted on his feet for a brief embar rassed rnterval before the desk, and then dropped . "to J . <:™ssed his legs, and caressed the ankle on hi« i,„ with a careless hand. " Anything new "he asked Thorpe lolled back in his ann-chair. " llTllL to ^^z '^rz^ fo tair'.'r" i:^ ^'^ on the St'nnt P I "^ ""'^""^ "P tbe business on tne titock Exchange tomorrow." seemti'TnT'" T-""^"^""^ ^^°^^^"' ^^^^"tly. He r4"dt'r. ^.!l^f^^-^-^^'- thoughts which had wan! c-^rea astray . ^ es— oi course. * ' THE MARKET-PLACE Yes — oi course," Thorpe said after him, v/ith a latent touch of significance. The other looked up quickly, then glanced away again. It 's all going as you expected, is it ? " he asked. Better than I expected," Thorpe told him, energetic- ally. " Much better than anybody expected." " Hah ! " said Plowden. After a moment's reflection he went on hesitatingly: " I did n't know. I saw some- thing in one of the papers this morning, — one of the money articles, — which spoke as if there were some doubt about the result. That 's why I called." " Well — it 's damned good of you to come round, and show such a friendly interest." Thorpe's voice seemed candid enough, but there was an enigmatic something in his glance which aroused the other's distrust. " I 'm afraid you don't take very much stock in the * friendly interest,' " he said, with a constrained little laugh. " I 'm not taking stock in anything new just now," replied Thorpe, lending himself lazily to the other's metaphor. " I 'm loaded up to the gunnels already." A minute of rather oppressive silence ensued. Then Plowden ventured upon an opening. " All the same, it •was with an idea of, — perhaps being of use to you, — that I came here," he affirmed. In what way ? " Thorpe put the query almost list- lessly. lyord Plowden turned his hands and let his dark eyes sparkle in a gesture of amiable uncertainty. " That de- pended upon what was needed. I got the impression that you were in trouble — the paper spoke as if there were no doubt of it — and I imagined that quite probably you would be glad to talk with me about it." ' ' Quite right, ' ' said Thorpe. " So I should. ' ' 1, v/ith a latent THE MARKET-PLACE 295 jry almost list- f»,^ ,'?""''' ""■'' ^•^^"■•■->"'=<= seemed not, however to facLtate conversation. The noblen.an looked at the pat" tern of the sock on the ankle he was nursing, and knitted the Stock Exchange decide to interfere!- he asked at mi't'te^d'?' """ ^"'"^ '""^'^ "^ ^•^y-I'igl'," Thorpe ad- " Approximately, how much may one take ' sky-hi-^h ' to mean ? " -^ "'&" Thorpe appeared to calculate. " Almost anything up to a quarter of a million, ' ' he answered ^ Stan? ^T ' ' ' '"^"^ ^^'"^ ^^^^^'" "^^•"- ' ' Well-I under- whlf^ r? ^'''''' '° understand-that very likely that is what the Committee will decide." ' ' Does it say that in the papers ? ' ' asked Thorpe He essayedanefFectof concern. " Where did you see that 7'' to me. "' ''' ''' ^^'" ^"P^^^"^^- " It-it came " God ! "said Thorpe. <' That '11 be awful ! But are you really m earnest? Is that what you hear ? And does It come at all straight ? " str^k'ht '^T^'". "'1^'^ portentously. ''Absolutely straight, he said, with gravity. Thorpe, after a momentary stare of what looked like bewilderment, was seen to clutch at a straw. «' But whal was It you were saying ? " he demanded, with eager'e s You talked about help-a minute ago.' Did y'u n ea„ can df ? "' '" ''' ' ^^^" • '' '"'^'^ something'that you Plowden weighed his words. " It would be necessarv to have a very complete understanding," he reniarkT' ^ ^ Whatever you like, ' ' exclaimed the other. Pardon me-it would have to be a good deal more Bssaaiaraaaai-ar.iBi i i 296 THE MARKET-PLACE definite than that," Plowden declared. " A 'burnt child' — you know." The big man tapped musingly with his finger-nails on the desk. " We won't quarrel about that," he said. " But what I 'd like to know first, — you need n't give anything away that you don't want to,— but what 's your plan ? You say that they 've got me in a hole, and that you can get me out." " In effect— yes." *' But how do you know that I can't get myself out ? What do you know about the whole thing anyway ? Supposing I tell you that I laugh at it— that there 's no more ground for raising the suspicion of fraud than there is for — for suspecting that you 've got wings and can fly." " I— I don't think you '11 tell me that," .said Plowden, placidly. " Well then, .supposing I don't tell you that," the other resumed, argumentatively. "Supposing I say instead that it can't be proved. If the Conunittee does n't have proof nozv, — within twenty-one or twenty- two hours, — they can't do anything at all. Tomorrow is .settling day. All along, I 'vesaid I would wind up the thing tomorrow. The market-price has been made for me by the jobbers yesterday and today. I 'm all ready to end the whole business tomorrow— clo.se it all out. And after that 's done, what do I care about the Stock Exchange Conunit- tee ? They can investigate and be damned ! What could they do to me ? " " I think a man can always be arrested and indicted, and sent to penal .servitude," said Lord Plowden, with a certain solemnity of tone. " There are even well-known instances of extradition." Thorpe buried his chin deep in his collar, and regarded his coutpaiiiou with a fixed iraze. in which the latter de- 'burnt child' nger- nails on .t," he said, leed n't give what 's your ole, and that myself out ? tig anyway ? It there 's no id than there mdcan fly." lid Plowden, t," the other say instead loes n't have wo hours, — settling day. ig tomorrow. the jobbers d the whole after that 's ige Connnit- What could Lud indicted, vden, with a well-known md regarded THE MARKET-PLACE 297 tected signs of trepidation. " But about the Commiltee- aud tomorrow." he said slowly. "What do you sav about that ? How can they act in that lightning fashion'? And even if proofs could be got, how do you suppose they are to be got on the drop of the hat, at a minute's notice ? '' 1 he case is of sufficient importance to warrant a special meeting tomorrow morning. ' ' the other rejoined. ' ' One hour s notice, posted in the House, is sufficient. I believe Any three members of the Committee can call such a meet- ing and I understand that seven make a quorum. You will see that a meeting could be held at noon tomor- mln - ''''^^"" ^""^^ """ ^'''"' ^"""^"^ '"^^^ >'°" ^ ^""»^^ " I don't know— would you call it quite ruined ? " com- mented Thorpe. " I should still have a few sovereigns to go on with." ^ "A criminal prosecution would be practicallv inevitable -after such a disclosure," Plowden reminded him with augmented severity of tone. "Don't mix the two things up," the other urged There .seemed to the listener to be supplication in the voice. It s the action of the Committee that you said you could influence. That 's what we were talking about \ou say there will be a special meeting at noon to- morrow ' ' •' I said there could be one." Plowden corrected him. AH right. There am be one. And do vou say that there can be proof. -proof against me of fraud, -produced at that meeting ? " '' Yes-I .say that." the nobleman affirmed, quietly And further still-do you say that it rests with" you whether that proof shall be produced or not ? " Lord Plowden looked into the impassive, deeo-eved rn^^ wnica covered iiim, and looked away from it again ^ •' I 298 THE MARKET-PLACE have u t put ,t in just that form," he said, hesitatingly. But in essentials-yes, that may be taken as true ' ' ' A»d what is your figure ? How much do you want for holding this proof of yours back, and letting me finish scooping the money of your Hebrew friends Aronson and Rostocker ? ' ' The peer raised his head, and shot a keenly enquiring glance at the other. ' ' Are they my friends ? ' ' he asked with challenging insolence. ' '' I 'm bound to assume that you have been dealin- with them, just as you are dealing with me." Thorpe explained his meaning dispassionately, as if the trans- action were entirely commonplace. " You tell them that you 're in a position to produce proof against me and ask them what they '11 give for it. Then naturally enough you come to me, and ask what I '11 be willing to pay to have the proof suppressed. I quite understand that I must bid against these men-and of course I take it for granted that, since you know their figure, you 've ar- ranged in your mind what mine is to be. I quite under- stand, too, that I am to pay more than they have offered That is on account of ' friendly interest.' " " Since you allude to it." Lord Plowden observed with a certain calm loftiness of tone, " there is no harm in say- ing that you w/// pay something on that old score. Once you thrust the promise of something like a hundred thou- sand pounds positively upon me. You insisted on my be leving it. and I did so, like a fool. I came to you to redeem the promise, and you lau.c;hed in mv face. Very well It IS my turn now. I hold the whip-hand, and I should be an ass not to remember things. I shall want that entire one hundred thousand pounds from you, and fifty thousand added to it ' on account of the friendly iu- terest,' as you so intelligently expressed it." , hesitatingly. as true." I do you want :ing me finish Aronson and ily enquiring ? " he asked, been dealing e." Thorpe if the trans- u tell them against me, ten naturally be willing to ; understand urse I take it , you 've ar- quite under- lave offered. served, with larm in say- core. Once ndred thou- ited on my le to you to face. Very liand, and I .sliall want tn you, and friendly iu- Msai ' wirmu r llliSITATION, WKi.lli .SKVIihAI. LI. Ms ka riiii.s .'— .'W.c :}09. wm 71W'niiiiilliiiM,Ljmiiii_^ THE MARKET-PLACE 299 ^^ Thorpe's chin burrowed still deeper upon his breast _ It s an outrage, "he said with feeling. Then he added in^tones of dejected resignation : " When will you want "At the moment when the payments of Rostocker and Aronson are made to you, or to your bankers or agents " l.ord Plowden replied, with prepared facility. He had evidently given much thought to this part of the pro- ceedings. ' ' And of course I shall expect you to draw up now an agreement to that effect. I happen to have a stamped paper with me this time. And if vou don't mmd, we will have it properly witnessed-this time " Thorpe looked at him with a disconcertingly leaden stare, the while he thought over what had been proposed. That 's right enough," he announced at last, " but I shall expect you to do some writing too. Since we 're dealing on this basis, there must be no doubt ab-ut the guarantee that you will perform your part of the contract ' ' The performance itself, since payment is conditional upon It-" began Plowden, but the other interrupted " No, I want something better than that. Here-give me your stamped paper. ' ' He took i he bluish sheet and without hesitation, wrote several lines rapidly " Here— this is my promise," he said, " to pay you ^-150,000, upon your satisfactory performance of a certain undertaking to be separately nominated in a document called ' A ' which we will jointly draw up and agree to and sign, and deposit wherever you like-for safe keoping. Now, if vou '11 sit here, and write out for me a similar thing-that in con- sideration of my promise of ^,50,000, you covenant to perform the undertaking to be nominated in the document A ' — and so on." I.ord Plowden treated as a matter oi course the ready 30O THE MARKET-PLACE and business-like suggestion of the other. Taking his place at the desk in turn, he wrote out what had been suggested. Thorpe touched a bell, and the clerk who came in perfunctorily attested the signatures upon both papers. Each principal folded and pocketed the pledge of the other. " Now," said Thorpe, when he had seated himself again at the desk, " we are all right so far as protection against eacli other goes. If you don't mind, I will draw up a suggestion of what the separate document ' A ' should set forth. If you don't like it, you can write one. ' ' He took more time to this task, frowning laboriously over the fresh sheet of foolscap, and screening from ob- .servation with his hand what he was writing. Finally, the task seemed finished to his mind. He took up the paper, glanced through it once more, and handed it in silence to the other. In silence also, and with an expression of arrested at- tention, Lord Plowden read these lines : ' ' The tindcrtaking referred to in the tzco doejiments of even date, signed rcspeetively by Lord Plozvden a7id Stormont Thorpe, is to the effect that at some hotir between eleven a.m. and three p.m. of September 12th, instant, Lord Plozvden shall produce before a special meeting of the Committee of the Stock Exchange, the person of one fcrome ^. Tavender, to explain to said Committee his share in the blackmailing scheme of v'hich Lord Plozvden, over his ozvn signature, has furnished documentary evidence.'"' The nobleman continued to look dow!i at the paper, after the power to hold it without shaking had left his hand. There came into his face, mingling with atul vitiating its rich natural hues of health, a kind of grey shadow. It was as if clay was revealing itself beneath faded oaint- He did not lift hi« pvpq ' arrested at- THE MARKET-PLACE 301 Of IlTwi'^-^JfT ^""^'''^ '^ ^^^ '^'' consummation of h,s nek with boisterous and scornful mirth. Even while the victim was deciphering the fatal paper, he had restrained with impatience the desire to burst out into bitter laughter. But now there was something in the aspect of Plowden's collapse which seemed to forbid tri- umphant derision. He was taking his blow so hke a gentleman -ashen-pale and quivering, but clinging to a high-bred dignity of silence.-that the impulse to exhibit equally good manners possessed Thorpe upon the instant. Wei -you see how little business you 've got, setting yourself to buck against a grown-up man. ' ' He offered the observation in the tone of the school- teacher, affectedly philosophical but secretly jubilant his fonr"^""'' "" '^'^''''''^ ^""^ humiliated urchin upon "Oh, chuck it ! " growled Lord Plowden, staring still at tlie calamitous paper. Thorpe accepted in good part the intimation that silence was after all nio.st decorous. He put his feet up on the the discomfited Viscount impassively. He forbore even to smile. "So this swine of a Tavender came straight to you ' " Lord Plowden had found words at last. As he spoke he lifted his face, and made a show of looking the other in " Oh there are a hundred things in your own game, even that you have n't an inkling of," Thorpe told him, lightly I ve been watching every move you ' ve made seeing further ahead in your own game than you did' U hy It was too easy ! It was like playing draughts with a p''*-' I knew you would come tod. v, for exanjWe I 2 people out there that I expected you. ' '" '"^''' told raEsaaster_ .11 i iHiiai !i ' li I; 302 THE MARKET-PLACE "Yes-s," said the other, with rueful bewilderment. " You seem to have been rather on the spot — I con- fess." " On the spot ? All over the place ! " Thorpe lifted himself slightly in his chair, and put more animation into his voice. "It 's the mistake you people make ! " he declared oracularly. " You think that a man can come into the City without a penny, and form great combinations and carry through a great scheme, and wage a fight with the smartest set of scoundrels on the lyondon Stock Exchange and beat 'em, and make for himself a big fortune — and still be a fool ! You imagine that a man like that can be played with, and hoodwinked by amateurs like yourself. It 's too ridiculous ! " The perception that apparently Thorpe bore little or no malice had begun to spread through Plowden's conscious- ness. It was almost more surprising to him than the revelation of his failure had been. He accustomed him- self to the thought gradually, and as he did so the courage crept back into his glance. He breathed more easily. " You are right ! " he admitted. It cost him nothing to give a maximum of fervid conviction to the tone of his words. The big brute's pride in his own brains and power was still his weakest point. " You are right ! I did play the fool. And it was all the more stupid, be- cause I was the first man in London to recognize the im- mense forces in you. I said to you at the very outset, * You are going to go far. You are going to be a great man.' You remember that, don't you ? " Thorpe nodded. " Yes— I remember it." The nobleman, upon reflection, drew a little silver box from his pocket, atid extracted a match. " Do you mind ? " he asked, and scarcelv waitine for a token of re- iwilderment. jpot — I con- [*horpe lifted imation into he declared me into the illations and jht with the k Exchange ortune — and that can be ke yourself. 2 little or no 'sconscious- m than the ?tomed hini- the courage e easily, lim nothing i tone of his brains and •e right ! I stupid, be- tiize the im- rery outset, be a great e silver box " Do you token of re- THE MARKET-PLACE 303 ply, struck a flame upon the sole of his shoe, and applied It to the sheet of foolscap he still held in his hand. The two men watched it curl and blacken after it had been tossed in the grate, without a word. This incident had the effect of recalling to Thorpe the essentiais of the situation. He had allowed the talk to drift to a point where it became aimost affable He sat upriglit with a sudden determination, and put his feet firmly on the floor, and knitted his brows in austerity. " It was not only a dirty trick thai you tried to play me " be said, in an altered, harsh tone, " but it was a fool-trick That drunken old bum of a Tavender writes some lunatic nonsense or other to Gafferson, and he 's a worse idiot even than Tavender is, and on the strength of what one of these clowns thinks he surmises the other clown means you go and spend your money, -money I gave vou, by the way -in bringing Tavender over h^re. You do this on the double chance, we 'II say, of using him against me for revenge and profit combined, or of peddling him to me for a still bigger profit. You see it 's all at my fingers' endr." ^ Lord Plowden nodded an unqualified assent "Well then-Ta vender arrives. What do you do? Are you at the wharf to meet him ? Have you said to yourself: I ve set out to fight one of the smartest and strongest men in England, and I 've got to keep ev^ery atom of wits about me, and strain every nerve to the utmost, and watch every point of the game as a tio-er watches a snake ' ? Not a bit of it ! You snooze in bed and you send Gafferson-Gufferson !-the mud-head of the earth ! to meet your Tavender, and loaf about with him in London, and bring him down by a slow train to your p.ace iii tae evening. My God ! Vou 've only got two Hi III -^"-3::-^r-^-7C;s: KM 304 THE MARKET-PLACE clear days left to do thf: whole thing in — and you don't even come up to town to get ready for them ! You send Gafferson— and he goes off to see a flower-show — Motlier of Moses ! think of it ! aj^^ze/^r-show !— and your Tavender and I are left to take a stroll together, and talk over old times and arrange about new times, and so on, to our hearts' content. Really, it 's too easy ! You make me tired ! " The nobleman offered a wan, appealing shadow of a smile. " I confess to a certain degree of weariness my- self," he said, humbly. Thorpe looked at him in his old apathetic, leaden fashion for a little. " I maj'- tell you that if you had got hold of Tavender," he decided to tell him, " he would n't have been of the faintest use to you. I know what it was that he wrote to Gafferson, — I could n't understand it when he first told me, but afterwards I saw through it, — and it was merely a maudlin misapprehension of his. He 'd got three or four things all mixed up together. You 've never met your friend Tavender, I believe ? You 'd enjoy him at Hadlow House. He smells of rum a hundred yards off. What httle brain he 's got left is soaked in it. The first time I was ever camping with him, I had to lick him for drinking the methylated spirits we were using with our tin stove. Oh, you 'd have liked him !" " Evidently," said Lord Plowden, upon reflection, " it was all a most unfortunate and — ah — most deplorable mistake." With inspiration, he made bold to add : " The most amazing thing, though — to my mind — is that you don't seem — what shall I say ? — particularly enraged with me about it." "Yes — that surprises me, too," Thorpe meditatively nHmitfcfl " I WP« ftlfiflwl tA Will \rfMi r>t-Mt:li tt^mi fo THE MARKET-PLACE 30s nd you don't ! You send low — Mother :>ur Tavender ;alk over old on, to our ou make me shadow of a eariuess my- letic, leaden ' you had got he would n't ^ what it was nderstand it hrougli it, — ision of his. up together. I believe ? ells of rum a s got left is imping with ^dated spirits d have liked iflection, " it t deplorable .add: "The -is that you irly enraged meditatively rush you to jelly. Any other man I would. But you, -I don't know,— I do funny things with you." .u" ^r'l^, ^'°]' "^""^^ ^^^^ "^^ ^ ^""k, now-as one of them, P.owden ventured to suggest, with uneasy pleasantry. ^ Thorpe smiled a little as he rose, and heavily moved across the room. He set out upon the big official table in the middle, that mockingly pretentious reminder of a Board which never met, a decanter and two glasses and some recumbent, round-bottomed bottles. He handed one of these last to Plowden, as the latter strolled toward the table. •' You know how to open these, don't you ? " he said languidly. ' ' Somehow I never could manage it " The nobleman submissively took the bottle, and picked with awkwardness at its wire and cork, and all at once achieved a premature and not over-successful explosion He wiped his dripping cuff in silence, when the tumblers were supplied. ;' Wdl-here 's better luck to you next time," Thorpe said lifting his glass. The audacious irony of his words hlled Plowden with an instant purpose. " What on earth did you round on me in that way for Thorpe-when I was here last ? " He put the question with bravery enough, but at sight of the other's unre- sponsive face grew suddenly timorous and explanatory. No man was ever more astounded in the world than I was. To this day I 'm as unable to account for it as a babe unborn. What conceivable thing had I done to you ? ' ' Thorpe slowly thought of something that had not oc- curred to him before, and seized upon it with a certain satisfaction. That day that you took me shooting," he sai with fl \l 306 THE MARKET-PLACE the tone of one finally exposing a long-nursed grievance, you stayed in bed for hours after you knew I was up and waiting for you — and when we went out, you had a servant to carry a chair for you, but I— by God !— I had to stand up." " Heavens above ! " ejaculated Plowden, in unfeigned amazement. "These are little things— mere trifles," continued Thorpe, dogmatically, " but with men of my temper and make-up those are just the things that aggravate and rankle and hurt. Maybe it 's foolish, but that 's the kind of man I am. You ought to have had the intelli- gence to see that— and not let these stupid little things happen to annoy me. Why just think what you did. I was going to do God knows what for you — make your fortune and everything else,— and you did n't show con- sideration enough for me to get out of bed at a decent hour— much less see to it that I had a chair if you were going to have one." " Upon my word, I can't tell how ashamed and sorry I am," Lord Plowden assured him, with fervent contrition in his voice. " Well, those are the things to guard against," said Thorpe, approaching a dismissal of the subject. " People who show consideration for me ; people who take pains to do the little pleasant things for me, and see that I 'ra not annoyed and worried by trifles — they 're the people that I, on my side, do the big things for. I can be the best friend in the world, but only to those who show that they care for rae, and do what they know I '11 like. I don't want toadies about me, but I do want people who feel bound to me, and are as keen about me and my feelings and interests as they are about their own." "It is delightfully feudal— all this," commented the I, in unfeigned imrnftitpH tlip THE MARKET-PLACE -q- nobleman, smilingly addres«;tncr *^. particular. ThenYe S'TrSo^r ^^'J? "^ ^ - nin^'sTa gri"; "' Butt? r'" .'^^ ^~^-'"«' ''^g-. queried, inTbanterfug t^ ^.^e'T 'T°^ ^^ ^ '^ "« have to be of some ufe Th.v ? ' ^ ''"^' "''™' ■"« their shoulders. Whv-in.T^v T''","'^ "> ''^^« ^-^ads on don't mean so 2^ .Z''':^t:LlVr ' through your fineers-»in,„ \. .[ ^ Tavender slip I ever heard of^But het ^ v' "'" "''°"' «•« ™'-t there, you allowed me to h " "' '■°°'°' " ">" "esk %ni„gapaper :Lh you oXtoT '"T r'""^ '"' cut off rather than write n^nSisigu'vf "°" l^""* trymg to work the most diffi,-,,! f ! ! "" ''""^ '"^''^ bIuff,-knowi„g all th :S ,« .t"^^"^''"''"'^ Pended entirely upon h J J / """'^^ >'»u de- remotest idea where -a „d ''"^'PP^"^'^' ^ou had n't the into giving me y^; signat"" tr'"^"^ '^' "^ '^^ y°» that you are blackmalf„gl;,\^°".°"". '^^^"'""™ you know-I can't .^^ f , ! "hinkiug it all over- me in the City " " ^°" ™'"'^ ''^ °f »uch help to mirth had some s^perfidlu L^^f ?" P'^'^^"'^^'- «- was hopeful unu.,Lfh .^%He Citv'"t"''r"' ""' "' meaning. " ^u^, ,„ .. "^ ^'y •' "e echoed, with about the City .Whi'L'sr'' f '" "^^^^^ ^° ' ^now you said, I 'rl the an ateuT ? ^^ ' '^ "" ^^^>' ^ ^s make me seem any S of ; •^- ^^ "^'" ^^^^^ >'°" ^^n the turnof hishTnd ise thaf-tr '°°^ '^ ^^^^^' ^'^^ am I to do? Ihavetor.V 5^'^"°"^^- ^"^ what i nave to make a shot at snmpft,;... so rotten poor i m .^rrpsaesf:- tssmmm- ^ '"i 308 THE MARKET-PLACE Thorpe had retired again behind the barrier of dull- eyed abstraction. He seemed not to have heard this ap- pealing explanation. The other preserved silence in turn, and even made a pretence of looking at some pamphlets on the table, as a token of his boundless deference to the master's mood. " I don't know. I '11 see," the big man muttered at last, doubtfully. Lord Plowden felt warranted in taking an optimistic view of these vague words. " It 's awfully good of you " — he began, lamely, and then paused. " I wonder," — he took up a new thought with a more solicitous tone, — " I wonder if you would mind returning to me that idiotic paper I signed." Thorpe shook his head. " Not just now, at any rate," he said, .still nmsingly. With his head bowed, he took a few restless steps. " But you are going to — to help me ! " the other re- marked, with an air of confidence. He had taken up his hat, in response to the tacit warning of his companion's manner. Thorpe looked at him curiously, and hesitated over his answer. It was a surprising and almost unaccountable conclusion for the interview to have reached. He was in .some vague way a.sliamcd of himself, but he was explicitly and contemptuously ashnmed for Plowden, and the im- pul.se to say .so was .strong within him. This handsome young gentleman of title ought not to be escaping with this restored l)uoyancy of mien, and this complacency of spirit. Me had deserved to be punished with a heavy hand, and here he was blithely making certain of new benefits instead. " I don't know — I Ml sec," Thorpe moodily repeated — and there was no more to be said. f CHAPTER XXI more, his relent r ? ^'^ '"' '""'"?''• """^ "--^u and chic J- :ro„/c r„: :'x:::r' "■■; !■■' ^ "^™ and si^^ „ I'elfn t„re;,r •'""■•'"" ■ '" ■■■"-'* "PO". seemed not at n, ■> " ij ,1°''^''; r"''^?"''''-' ""^ "■^>' endeavour to do tilings which Jo d ,,^r, ^ '"' pa"ic-.tricken terrors \efor he nd^t o'f 7' ?"' oalan.ities -until he dreaded to go j^^lep tZT Pron,pt, leaden :^„f,r!:^t,e^:','-' "'""■"•' "'"' ""° as torturiuL' is ..v,.r i ^ nmrnuiKs remaine.l and si ck at'l^^rt V ih I'! ""f " '"^ ""'"''^ "''''^-^■'l fear, t!,',' iltrdl^^^t^i^r^.::^^^^ -■" -^ -" Then, .udeed, the big cohl sp„„ge"„:;his head . 309 spiue iHii THE MARKET-^LACfi scattered these foolish troubles like chaff, and restored to him his citizenship among the realities. He dressed with returning equanimity, and was almost cheerful by the time he thrust his razor into the hot water. Yet increasingly he was conscious of the wear and strain of it all, and in- creasingly the date, September twelfth, loomed before him with a portentous individuality of its own. This day grew to mean so much more to him than had all the other days of the dead years together that he woke in the darkness of its opening hours, and did not get satis- factorily to sleep again. His vigil, however, was for the once free from grief. He drowsily awaited the morning in vague mental comfort ; he had recurring haphazard in- dolent glimpses of a protecting fact standing guard just outside the portals of consciousness — the fact that the great day was here. He rose early, breakfasted well, and walked by the Embankment to the City, where at ten he had a few words with Semple, and afterward caused him- self to be denied to ordinary callers. He paced up and down the Board Room for the better part of the ensuing two hours, luxuriating in the general sense of satisfaction in the proximity of the climax, rather than pretending to himself that he wa3 thinking out its details. He had pro- vided in his plans of the day for a visit from Messrs. Rostocker and Aronson, which should constitute the dramatic finale of the " corner," and he looked forward to this meeting with a certain eagerness of expectation. Yet even here he thought broadly of the .scene as a whole, and asked himself no questions about words and phrases. It seemed to be taken for granted in his mind that the scene itself would be theatrically impressive, even spectacular. In the event, this long-awaited culmination proved to be disappointingly aat and eommonplac-e. It was over ^•i. i I restored to Iressed with by the time increasingly all, and in- l before him im than had liat he woke lot get satis- was for the ;lie morning aphazard in- l guard just ct that the ed well, and re at ten he caused him- aced up and the ensuing r satisfaction retending to He had pro- -om Messrs. nstitute the tked forward expectation. i as a whole, and phrases, ind that the issive, even n proved to it was over ••WHR.VTr,.vsT,.<>„ „.u,.„-ntv ,„.ENr ,u.:kokk h.m.'WV.^..,,, ', \ S " ■ ■ 1 k 1 :. , 't i 1 1 1 1 fl p ♦ f ill i tHE MARKET-PLACE 3ii before Thorpe had said any considerable proportion of the ^ings he saw afterward that he had intended to say. The two men came as he had expected they would— and they bought their way out of the tragic " comer " at pre- cisely the price he had nominated in his mind. But hardly anything else went as he had dimly prefigured it Mr. Rostocker was a yellow-haired man, and Mr. Aron- son was as dark as a Moor, and no physical resemblance of features or form suggested itself to the comparing eye yet Thorpe even now, when they stood brusquely silent before him, with their carefully-brushed hats pulled down over their eyes, stuck to it in his own mind that it was hard to tell them apart. To the end, there was some- thing impersonal in his feeling toward them. They, for their part, coldly abstained from exhibiting a sign of feel- ing about him, good, bad, or indifferent. It was the man with the fair hair and little curly flaxen beard who spoke : "How do you do ! I understand that we can buy eight thousand five hundred Rubber Consols from you at ' twenty-three.' " No— twenty-five, ' ' replied Thorpe. three^""^^'^ ""^^ '^""^^ ■" " '^^^ ^''^^^'^' ^"""^ '' ^'^^"^^■ "To carry over— yes," Thorpe answered. " But to buy It is twenty-five." The two sons of the race which invented mental arith- metic exchanged an alert glance, and looked at the floor for an engrossed instant. •'I don't mind telling you," Thorpe interposed upon their silence, " I put on that extra two pounds because you got up that story about applying to the Stock Ex- change Committee on a charge of fraud." " We did n't get up any story," said Rostocker. curtlv. iou tned to plant it on us," Aronson declared. u^ tllE MARItET-PLACfi g " One of your own Directors put it about. I thought it was a fake at the time." This view of the episode took Thorpe by surprise. As it seemed, in passing, to involve a compliment to his own strategic powers, he accepted it without comment. ' ' Well — it is twenty-five, anyway," he told them, with firmness. " Twenty-four," suggested Aronson, after another momentary pause. " Not a shilhng less than twenty-five," Thorpe insisted, with quiet doggedness. ' ' We can always pay our creditors and let you whistle, ' ' Rostocker reminded him, laconically. " You can do anything you like," was the reply, " ex- cept buy Rubber Consols under twenty-five. It does n't matter a fig to me whether you go bankrupt or not. It would suit me as well to have you two ' hanmiered ' as to take your money. ' ' Upon the spur of a sudden thought he drew out his watch. " In just two minutes' time to a tick, the price will be thirty." " Let 's be ' hammered ' then ! " said Aronson to his companion, with simulated impulsiveness. Rostocker was the older and stronger man, and when at last he spoke it was with the decision of one in authority. " It is your game," he said, with grave imperturbability. " Eight thousand five hundred at twenty-five. Will you deliver at the Credit Lyonnais in half an hour ? " Thorpe nodded, impassively. Thuii a roving idea of genial impertinence brought a gleam to his eye. " If you should happen to want more Rubber Consols at any time," he said, with a tentative chuckle, " I could probably let you have them at a reduced price." The two received the pleasantry without a smile, but to Thorpe's astonishment one of them seemed to discern somcthiiiK iii it bcciidc banter. It was Rostocker who is' time to a nsoti to his THE MARKET-rLACi: .j, a moment lateV^htl tlW ^r ^'"'' '"'"'"^^ ^"^ ness, before the Broker arrived ^"^" Claimed heartilv x^,;t^u i ' ^^ ^x- off at twenty-three ! " ^^"^ ''" P""«-'' '' • ; After youlft^f : „,orr r./Tt'Li^d'o ':^'"'' ,^'°"''- that I 'd raise it i ro,„.i r , occurred to me der about Tose pie s , IdT ' '™'"' ^ "^ ■"-'" I was and sn T,^T ""vspapers than I thouglit on th^triunt •• "" "'^' "^""^^■' '"°"-"' pounds Von ri.,:.ed evefytimrn-n '" " " '" "^ ^"''"^ '"=" ' I lil'Mf "°'f ■•''"'*'>■ "^'-n'Sged his shoulders. " Well- Tht:iX2.;hii::,?rr''' r "'-^ — -■ 's actually all over ! AnH «^~ ,*-^ a drink ! Hell ! I,et peruana we won't have s send out for some champagne! " i 3U tHE MARKET-PLACEl His finger was hovering over the bell, when the Broker's dissuading voice arrested it. " No, no ! " Semple urged. " I would n't touch it. It 's no fit drink for the daytime — and it 's a scandal in an office. Your clerks will aye blab it about hither and yon, and nothing harms a man's reputation more in the City. ' ' " Oh, to hell with the City ! " cried Thorpe, joyously. " I 'm never going to set foot in it again. Think of that ! I mean it ! " None the less, he abandoned the idea o" sending out for wine, and contented himself with the resources of the cabinet instead. After some friendly pressure, Semple consented to join him in a brandy-and-soda, though he contin'ted to protest between sips that at such an hour it was an indecent practice. " It 's the ruin of many a strong man," he moralized, looking rather pointedly at Thorpe over his glass. " It 's the principal danger that besets the verra successful man. He 's too busily occupied to take exercise, and he 's too anxious and worried to get his proper sleep — but he can always drink ! In one sense, I 'm not sorry to think that you 're leaving the City." " Oh, it never hurts me," Thorpe said, indifferently ac- cepting the direction of the homily. " I 'm as strong as an ox. But all the same, I shall be better in every way for getting out of this hole. Thank God, I can get off to Scot- land tomorrow. But I say, Semple, what 's the matter with your visiting me at my place there ? I '11 give you the greatest shooting and fishing you ever heard of" The Broker was thinking of something else. " What is to be the precise position of the Company, in the im- mediate future ? " he asked. "Company? What Company ? " .j;'^iiipiC ;3Xii.ilt;u. ^Tiiiixy , Xiavc J'Ou imcau}* XUX^ULlCli fHE MARKET-PLACE .^. that there is such a thino- ? " ; . ; Why, n.an. this CoJptfthat parrt.'"'^ ^^^">'- Board-table." he explained^ with Z\Z ^^'" "'''' ^"^ baize centre. ^^ i^nuckles on its red Thorpe laughed amusedly " t u^;a f ,^ own pocket," he said -Pn , ^^'^ ^°^ ^^^t out of my chuckle/together ' ^^^''''^ '"' °"'-. -d they Of course I wash my hands of jt h , "f "^' ^ ™PP°^«- want to go o« with Itf You 17'^"' "'™''', ""^^"^^ ^'^ Pfnses. merely for the office „rthB:::rLT;""^ T jC3.ooo. I 've paid thesp fn,. ,1."°"°' f^o' up nearly won't do it amin A„r» m L' ^'^"' ''"' """^Ily I while to do U > Yo^rf r " "?' ™"'' ^"^"""y ^'^^'^ << TT ^ ours, for example?" an rSf "C Mlr;;?aX„rr- ^"' "»" '^ -C^tt-ee-^- ~ t:eT ^ -^^ leaves Watkin and n ." """'^'^ "-^ »'"'• Thft They.remX"ea.pS IVf '^/°"'' "'^"- shut them upJ?youS^Mir ''f "P'^"^^"""'-! them anything at aU > ^ ^ ™"'' "'''■^ to give th:;rcXv^;rsT2-^^^^^^^^^^ -PPO^ there really is such a plaS^? • ' "'"'""■ ' briefly • '"' " ^ ^" '"^^ "^ht enough/' Thorpe said, It 's no good, thoup-^ affable dir«ctness, ■o"> -s-a lb 4. 5 >« the Broker asked, with I: A ^v-... 3i6 THE MARKET-l'LACfi " Between ourselves, it is n't worth a damn," the other blithely assured him. The Scotchman mused with bent brows. ' ' There ought still to be money in it," he said, with an air of conviction. " By the way," it occurred to Thorpe to mention, " here 's something I did n't understand. I told Rostocker here, just as a cheeky kind of joke, that after he and Aron- son had got their eight thousand five hundred, if they thought they 'd like still more shares, I 'd let 'em have 'em at a bargain — and he seemed to take it seriously. He did for a fact. Said perhaps he could make a deal with me." '• Hm-m ! " said Semple, reflectively. " I '11 see if he says anything to me. Very likely he 's spotted some way of taking the thing over, and reorganizing it, and giving it another run over the course. I '11 think it out. And now I must be off. Are n't you lunching ? " " No — I '11 have the boy bring in some sandwiches," Thorpe decided. ' ' I want my next meal west of Temple Bar when I get round to it. I 've soured on the City for keeps. ' ' " I would n't say that it had been so bad to you, either," Semple smilingly suggested, as he turned to the door. Thorpe grinned in satisfied comment. " Hurry back as soon as you 've finally settled with Rostocker and the other fellow," he called after him, and began pacing the floor again. It was nearly four o'clock when these two men, again together in the Board Rr,ora, and having finished the in- spection of some papers on the desk, sat upright and looked at each other in tacit recognition that final words were to be spoken. " Well, Semple," Thorpe began, after that sienificaut n," the other it siernificant THE MARKET-PLACE -j- little pause, ' ' I want to sav that T 'm ^ done so well for yourself fnjh/affifr'vo/^' r" '''' straight as a die to me.-I oZitasLJ? "' '"'" ^' to myself,-and if you doa" th nk ^ ^°" ^' ^ ''° even now. I want you to s" so '"" '^ ^°' ™°"«'» anr;e'edVi':trkinV°'"?h ^''"^" "''"»■ ^""^ "- °"'- of making i a Sme lt'7 *"°''' '"'" ' "'^^ <^^«='»-'' cl.red. •' If ,ny fatl" r '^""^ '° ^°'"'°"'" '«= "e- that in one year out '7! f '"' "'"^ ^'^'^ »^ '«" "» over sixtyi:[Lt:^%^Ss'r M S'^it? d' t"^'' existence of a Supreme Beinl T'„ k, . '^°"''' ""^ your good words, Thorpe f.s not oH f '° ^°'' ''"^ to work with you but it 1,,« h ^ '''^" profitable great pleasure as welh ' " ' «'"" "'*''^^"°" ^"'l - Thorpe nodded his appreciation " t . a favour of you ■ > he said " i . , "' «°"'S '" "^^^ run of my investnt.r ^ • "'"" '° '"^^'^ *"= g«"«al to keep tmck o Tri "." '"'"'''' ""''^ "> your hands, ordinal ^t ri, J/™ Trd.' "l^~: iV ' '" '"^ pf money in non-productive real estate I sh„"T' ' ''°' "'=o»e of ^50.000 at the very easfa;] , t ™ '" as much. Tliere 's no f„„ ■ , ,. ' ^ Perhaps twice such a hank as^tL? be^hM yorB^iflirf '"'" ''' '"' w.se changes to be made in m^stme" t o^ rth"' ^°°'' upm the way of chances that I Zht to k "f '""' want to feel that vo„ v« „ IZ ^ '° '^"°" ■'•'out, I doing things -LyLe: LT ™'*'""" """^^ -" broker's work, I sha wait ,^"'^ "' " ™»'t be regular whatever you ihink is righ"'.''''^ ""' ' '"^'^^ ^■'»- " i'l'u WettZtesf nltf'^' ^"°"^'''' -"> S-P'- you put in my hands tudlthh^k"! T"" '" """^^^^ will be none the worse for U.e ^^T "™-'- '^^^ '^ 318 THE MARKET-PLACE *' I don't need any assurance on that score," Thorpe declared, cordially. " You 're the one sterling, honest man I 've known in the City." It was the Broker's turn to make a little acknowledging bow. His eyes gleamed frank satisfaction at being so well understood. " I think I see the way that more money can be made out of the Company," he said, ab- ruptly changing the subject. " I ' ve had but a few words with Rostocker about it— but it 's clear to me that he has a plan. He will be coming to you with a proposition." " Well, he won't find me, then," interposed Thorpe, with a comfortable smile. " I leave all that to you." " I suspect that his plan," continued Semple, " i to make a sub-rosa offer of a few shillings for the majority of the shares, and reconstitute the Board, and then form another Company to buy the property and good-will of the old one at a handsome price. Now if that would be a good thing for him to do, it would be a good thing for me to do. I shall go over it all carefully, in detail, this evening. And I suppose, if I see my way clear before me, that I may rely upon your good feeling in the matter. I would do all the work and assume all the risk, and, let us say, divide any profits equally— you in turn giving me a free hand with all your shares, and your influence with the Directors." " I '11 do better still," Thorpe told him, upon brief re- flection. " Reconstitute the Board and make Lord Plowden Chainnan,— I don't imagine the Marquis would have the nerve to go on with it,— and I '11 make a free gift of my shares to you two— half and half. You '11 find him all right to work with,— if you can only get him up in the morning,— and I 've kind o' promised him some- thing of the sort. Does that suit you ? ' ' •^emple's countenance was thou<^htful rather than en- ather than en- THE MARKET-PLACE 3J a^T^t^bZld "b^t -ff ^"-'^-"^t"-' you stands that his pit is ,1 1 \ ' f^''^,. and under- «o doubt we shafl i"t u'offtgl"/. '^'' ''"' '° ''°' ^ '- •■:-'nteti;"tttb:b:,;Li^r;-r have an absolutely free hand You 'reTo do ^ "■' '° I.ke,-wiad the Company up or^U i, 1 , ""l^'.^O" under a new name and ca^ch'^ uewl^t of euV "^ "•"? .t,-whatever you damned olea"^ w>, ?'^S^°"^ "«1» 1 trust him." ™eapieas.. When I trust a man, trast in each other's 1^ consc'-usnes of their mutual further upo^hese hat i-""-' ""'^"'^' <'"'^" "^ plundering "he p^w'TI.t?"''^^ "^ => ^-^" P'- ^r .opics-of'hepo'ss," my liJ^^eZS '"^'^^'^ ™ P^--^! during the autumn, and rf he"han« o7?h"^ '° ®~"^"' iug abroad. All at o„r» tI, r "horpe's winter- the fact of his fol "„ "^ ^"""^ ^''^''^^ <"^<^"»i"g u.ention tL it orth^'larrff^i''^'^' "' ''' ""' gracious sfr<-« «r ^i,' ^ ^ ^^^^^^' ^"d under the his leave, thfy shookTa "if^i^^^ ^/"P"^ "' ''''"«'' io"sere:;:;:Stitxrattrdr''^^""-^'^- Fruition was finally compkfe L w'"^ """ '" ''™- great harvest had^een'ldded L 11 pUe"°Tolr '^ uothtng remained for him but to ent r an'd e„io> r'"^'^ itsti^r nrZdtf f f 'r-'' "■-^-»"-' ■•" the re^t -f u ?•- "'^^^^'' ^^ unlimited Iei..„r. f.. the rest uf h.s hie. and of power to enrich thatlife with i rti - h THE MARKET-PLACE everything that money could buy, — but there was an odd inability to feel about it as he knew he ought to feel. Somehow, for some unaccountable reason, an absurd depression hovered about over his mind, darkening it with formless shadows. It was as if he were sorry that the work was all finished — that there was nothing more for him to do. But that was too foolish, and he tried to thrust it from him. He said with angry decision to himself that he had never liked the work ; that it had all been un- pleasant and grinding drudgery, tolerable onl}^ as a means to an end ; that now this end had been reached, he wanted never to lay eyes on the City again. Let him dwell instead upon the things he did want to lay eyes upon. Some tra\el no doubt he would like, but not too much ; certainly no more than his wife would cheerfully accept as a minimum. He desired rather to rest among his own possessions. To be lord of the manor at Pellesley Court, with his own retinue of servants and dependents and tenants, his own thousands of rich acres, his own splendid old timber, his own fat stock and fleet horses and abundant covers and prize kennels— ///a/ was what most truly appealed to him. It was not at all cer- tain that he would hunt ; break-neck adventure in the saddle scarcely attracted him. But there was no reason in the world why he should not breed racing horses, and create for himself a distinguished and even lofty position on the Turf He had never cared nuich about races or racing folk himself, but when the Prince and Lord Rose- ber}' and people like that went in fo*- winning the Derby, there clearly nuist be something fascinating in it. Then Parliament, of course ; *.e did not waver at all from his old if vague conception of a seat in Parliament as a natural part of the outfit of a powerful country magnate. Anu in a hundred o ler ways uicii should think of hiui THE MARKET-PLACE 3,^ as powerful, and look up to him w^ , , every Sunday, and sit "Hhe big Sq" eTp" t'°H;'"t be a magistrate as a iiin(t„ „<■ '1'"^'= ^ pew. He would himself felt „„ the Cmu" v clr-f'' t"*^ ''" ™"'<' ""^^^ the county by hTs chari«« j''. "^ ^""W ^^oni* munificent of hi reducl, ', ' '" "'" ^^^" "^ ""= -re a particularly Tad har™ st Vr ./."''''''^ ''*"« his estate to exact any renfwhnt '' 1'"'"' '" "'•'' noble sensation that would make' ?" i"' ""^' " more. ™^^^ • ^ ^uke could d. no chndro;iirot:-:a;:'r:r,"'^' "^ desired to have ter, or perhaos , L i I ' '^^"' '' ■™" ""d => daugh- would bHonTpLV or TlZl^rfT ^ '? ""'^ «'^'» new beings, the son w^fto . ^» he prefigured these distinction" ;nd the d ™ tvoTh ■ r'"^' '°' '•'"^°^'">' relations with hin! t! mZ , '""''• ""^ "^^ P^'^^al and. though afl^ectio,^" e ,^n/'"'"^'.' '°'"'="''" ''°"''al, girls-the, would n"t,;,r ''•■""""■ ^"' ""^ "«'<' nee, and 'walk out w , .uo'sTm"""" ""'^ f^"'"'' and be the darlings « hrhe't H ''"''' ""'' "''''°S'' man by the time they grew .fp"' ""^ "°'"<' "^^ »" o'd hil'iT;f:j~! fr'f '"^^ '°"" *- ^^ "-d-or by opuleLe a ^^ tfe demon"; '';""'''^' ''""^^ '^""°"-M smiling with virt'otto~Sr d f "T"""^-' his two daughters miraHli et "^ "'""« ''""'^n holding each1,y a Lr; '"'' °' "^''"^ ""^ '™dcrue.s,,, drelm;"H:"h:d''?t:i'et """^ f """'^ "■- *■"» "-^V ".using hi„,self „ .rtreL't" "V"!""',""" '"'-P- envelope, and looked b „kf; 1 T ' '"■"""■-ed hension seized upon b;,,, ".f,f! ":. ^^<""« "'^.rd appre- class which instinctively voker,r'°"*^"' '° "'^ P*"^'" ^'* ^°''es 'elegrnms and calanuties ■^ M 323 THE MARKET-PLACE ;i lt.1 together. He deferred to this feeling enough to nod dis- missal to the clerk, and then, when he was again alone, slowly opened the message, and read it : " Newcastle-on-Tyne, September 12. Otir frieyid died at Edinboro this morning. See you at hotel this evening.— Kervick.'' What Thorpe felt at first was that his two daughters had shrunk from him with swift, terrible aversion : they vanished, along with every phase of the bright vision, under a pall of unearthly blackness. He stood in the centre of a chill solitude, staring stupidly at the coarse, soft paper. The premonition, then, had justified itself ! Something had told him that the telegra.i was an evil thing. A vaguely superstitious consciousness of being in the pres- ence of Fate laid hold upon him. His great day of triumph had its blood-stain. A victim had been needful —•and to that end poor simple, silly old Tavender was a dead man. Thorpe could see him,— an embarrassing cadaver eyed by strangers who did not know what to do with it, — fatuous even in death. A sudden rage at Kervick flamed up. He clearly had played the fool— clumsily over-plying the simpleton with drink till he had killed him. The shadow of murder in- dubitably hung over the thing. And then— the crass witlessness of telegraphing ! Already, doubtless, the police of Edinborough were talking over the wires with Scotland Yard. A reference to a death in Edinborough, iu a telegr.mi from Newca le— it was incredible that this should escape the eye of the authorities. Any mitmte uiight bring a detective through that door there— follow- ing into the Board Room with his implacable scent the clue of blood. Thorpe's fancy pictured this detective as li to nod dis- again alone, friejid died at lis evening. — vo daughters ersion : they right vision, stood in the Lt the coarse. Something '\\ thing. A I in the pres- jreat day of been needful vender was a embarrassing w what to do e clearly had mpleton with )f murder in- in — the crass oubtless, the le wires with Edinborough, lible that this Any minute here — foUow- ble scent the s detective as THE MARKET-PLACE „, a momentarily actual presence-tall i^o« ij niisesof the Hint r off ^"S'^^f- -"'e beliefs and sur- key to e«rA, t r" "7^^"""^" ">«" '"'!> the Ta^venderTt^vto t Ttecti r^lr.^f- f™"' aeatn ot Tavender-they could Inrrli,. «,oi i • ibie for that; „... it ^Xi:^^^:':!^. -nt Of the ^^:z^:rz^^'t^:\^ They were always ,.ross, sentimental fools, theseluries' They would ,„,x „p the death and the deal '^inh^. Judge who fi«d that. 'Z ^he" udge^UTe "f ^''to'o^ tl ey were too coneeited, too puffed up Jtt Zhv tJ, take the trouble to understand. He grored Ilo 1 in n nightniart of Iielple.ssness groaned aloud m a hnrl oil of "'"<;" aeepi>. His nerveless cowardice had all at once become t nbelicva])Ie to himself W m ! THE MARKET-PLACE facility. He poured out some brandy, and sipped it neat, and laughed scornfully, defiantly, aloud. He had over half a million — with power and force and courage enough to do with it what he liked. He had fought luck undauntedly, unwearyingly, during all those years when his hands were empty. Was he to tremble and turn tail now, when his hands were full, when he was armoured and weaponed at every point ? He was amazed and hurt, and still more enraged, at that fit of girlish weakness which had possessed him. He could have beaten himself with stripes for it. But it could never happen again — never, never ! He told himself that with proud, resolute reiteration, as he got his hat and stick, and put in his pockets one or two papers from the desk, and then glanced about the Board Room for what was, most likely, the last time. Here he had won his great victory over Fate, here he had put his enemies under his feet, and if innocent simpletons had wandered into the company of these foes, it mattered not a whit to him that they also had been crushed. Figuratively, he turned his back upon them now ; he left them, slain and trampled, in the Board Room behind him. They no longer concerned him. Figuratively, too, as he walked with firmness to the door, he stepped over the body of old Tavender, upon the threshold, and bestowed upon it a downward mental glanc and passed on. By the time he reached the street, the memory of Tavender had become the merest shred of a myth. As he strode on, it seemed to him that his daughters came again, and took his hands, and moved lovingly beside him — lovingly and still more admiringly than before. pped it neat, lid force and :d. He had ing all those e to tremble ill, when he t ? He was t that fit of , He could 3ut it could 5 reiteration, pockets one ed about the le last time, here he had it simpletons , it mattered !en crushed, now ; he left behind him. nness to the ler, upon the vard mental id the street, rest shred of lim that his and moved ; admiringly CHAPTER XXn pY the autumn of the following year, a certain small LJ proportion of the people inhabiting the district in Hertfordshire which set its clocks by the dial over the stable-tower of Pellesley Court had accustomed them- selves to give the place its new name of High Thorpe. These were for the most part the folk of peculiarly facile wits and ready powers of adaptation, like pushing small tradesmen, and the upper servants in county houses An indoient and hazy compromise upon Pellesley Thorpe had drifted into use by perhaps a larg.r number. To the puzzled conservatism of the abiding huge majority nearest to the soil-the round-backed, lumpish men who tie strings round thdr corduroys under the knee, and the strong cow-faced women who look at passers-by on the road fronl the doors of dark little cottages, over radiant patches of blossoming garden-it seemed safest to drop family names altogether, and call it merely the Court. It stood proudly upon what was rather a notable ele- vation for those flat parts-a massive mansion of simple torm. built of a grey stone which seemed at a distance almost white against the deep background of yews and Italian pines behind it. For many miles seaward this pale front was a landmark. From thf terrace-walk at its base, one beheld a great expanse of sc ft green country, sloping gently away for a long distance, then stretch', z out upon a level whirh on mScf.r ,i^..„ .-..^ • , ^n bright weather, the remote, low-lying horizon had a 325 ■ 7 iiM f « (- i - n iy i^'-' --^ i iiffM i a fTrn- I iilE MARKET-PLACE defining line of oiownish-blue— and this stood for what was left of a primitive forest, containing trees much older than the Norman name it bore. It was a forest which at some time, no doubt, had extended without a break till it merged into that of Epping - leagues away to tlie souvh. The modern clearance and tillage, however, which sepa- rated^ it now from Epping had served as a curiousi)^ effective barrier—more baffling than the Romaus and Angles in their turn had found the original wild wood. No stranger seemed ever to find his way into thai broad, minutely-ciutivated fertile plain which High Thorpe looked dov,'!i upon. Mo railway had pushed its cheapen- ing course acrcis it. Siieirt. embmvered old country roads and lanes netted its expynse with hedgerows ; red points of tiled roofs, disiihwulshable here and there in clusters among tlie darker greens of orchards, identified the scattered hamlets— all named in Domesday Book, all seemingly unchanged since. A grey square church-tower emerging from tiie rooks' nests ; an ordered mass of foliage sheltering the distant gables and chimneys of some isolated houst: ; the dim perception on occasion that a rustic wag- gon was tu motion on some higliway, crawling patiently like an iasoct— of this placid, inductive nature were all the added proofs of human occupation that the landscape offered. Mr Stormont Thorpe, on an afternoon of early October, yawned in the face of this landscape— and then idly won- dered a little at the mood which had impelled him to do so. At the outset of his proprietorship he had bound himself, as by a point of honour, to regard this as the finest view from any gentleman's house in England. During the first few months his fidelity had been taxed a good deal, but these temptations and strugirles lay now all happily behind him. He had satisfactorily assimilated THE MARKET-PLACE )d for what much older !st which at break till it ) tlie sourh. vhich sepa- a curiously omans and wild wood, thai: broad, ih Thorpe ts cher.peu- Id country grows ; red id there in i, identified y Book, all urch-tower 3S of foliage me isolated rustic wag- g patiently •e were all I landscape ly October, I idly won- hini to do lad bound his as the England, en taxed a IS lay now issimilated 327 the spiiit of the vista, and blended it with his own. Its inertia when one came to comprehend it. was undeniably magnificent, and long ago he had perceived within him- self the growth of an answering repose, a responsive le-.iiargy which in its full development was also going to oe very fine. Practically all the land this side of the im- palpable line where trees and houses began to fade into the background belonged to him ; there were whole vil- i^-ges nestling half-concealed under its shrubberies which were his property. As an investment, these possessions were extremely unremunerative. Indeed, if one added the cost of the improvements which ought to be made, to the expenditure already laid out in renovations, it was questionable if for the next twenty years they would not rT!f?^-;\'^''?'^ ''^ ^^' income-sheet. But. now that he had laid hold of the local character, it pleased him that It should be so. He would not for the world have his gentle woolly-minded, unprofitable cottagers transformed into hustlers" ; it would wound his eye to see the smoke of any commercial chimney, the smudge of any diyidend-paying factory, staining the pure tints of the sylvan landscape. He had truly learned to love it Yet now. as he strolled on the terrace with his first after- luncheon cigar, he unaccountably yawned at the thing he loved. Upon reflection, he had gone to bed rather earlier the previous evening than usual. He had not been drink- ing out of the ordinary ; his liver seemed right enough He was not conscious of being either tired or drowsy He looked again at the view with some fixity, and said to himself convincingly that nothing else in England could compare with it. It was the finest thing there was any- where. Then he surprised himself in the middle of an- other yawn— and halted ahmntK, r*. j ._ ,.. that he wanted to travel. *f^. 328 THE MARKET-PLACE ■ Since his home-coming to this splendid new home in the previous January, at the conclusion of a honeymoon spent in Algiers and Egypt, he had not been out of England. There had been a considerable sojourn in London, it is true, at what was described to him as the height of the Season, but looking back upon it, he could not think of it as a diversion. It had been a restless, over-worked, mys- tifying experience, full of dinners to people whom he had never seen before, and laborious encounters with other people whom he did not particularly want to see again. There had been no physical comfort in it for him, and little more mental satisfaction, for Londoners, or rather people in London, seemed all to be making an invidious distinction in their minds between him and his wife. The fact that she continued to be called Lady Cressage was not of itself important to him. But in the incessant going about in London, their names were called out together so often that his ear grew sensitive and sore to the touch of the footmen's reverberations. The meaning differentia- tion which the voices of the servants insisted upon, seemed inevitably reflected in the glance and manner of their mistresses. More than anything else, that made him hate London, and barred the doors of his mind to all thoughts of buying a town-house. His newly-made wife, it is true, had not cared much for London, either, and had agreed to his decision against a town-house almost with animation. The occasion of their return from the hot bustle of the metropolis to these cool home shades— in particular the minute in which, at a bend in the winding carriage-way down below, they had silently regarded together the spectacle uplifted before them, with the big, welcoming house, and the servants on the terrace— had a place of its own in his memory. Edith had pressed his arm, as tbcy sat side by side in the THE MARKET-PLACE oine in the looti spent ■ England, idon, it is ght of the think of it •ked, ni3's- )m he had dth other see again, him, and or rather invidious 'ife. The ssage was ant going )gether so touch of iflferentia- n, seemed • of their lade him nd to all much for against a n of their hese cool ich, at a tlie}'^ had id before •vants on '. Edith e in the 329 landau, on the instant compulsion of a feeling they had in common. He had never, before or since, had quite the same assurance that she shared an emotion with him He vyas very far, however, from finding fault with his wife. It was in the nature of the life he chose to lead tha he should see a great deal of her, and think a great deal about her, and she bore both tests admirably If there was a fault to be found, it was with himself for his inability to altogether understand her. She played the part she had undertaken to play with abundant skill and discretion and grace, and even with an air of nice good- fellowship which had some of the aspects of affection He was vaguely annoyed with himself for having insight enough to perceive that it was a part she was playing, and yet lacking the added shrewdness to divine what her own personal attitude to her rdle was like. He had noticed sonietimes the way good women looked at their husbands when the latter were talking over their heads-with the eager, intent, non-comprehending admiration of an affec- tionate dog. This was a look which he could not imagine himself discovering in his wife's eyes. It was not con- ceivable to him that he should talk over her head Her glance not only revealed an ample understanding of all he said, but suggested unused reserves of comprehension which he might not fathom. It was as if, intellectually no less than socially, she possessed a title and he remained an undistinguished plebeian. He made no grievance, however, even in his own thoughts, of either inequality. She had been charmingly frank and fair about the question of the names, when it first arose. The usage had latterly come to be. she ex- plained, for a widow bearing even a courtesy title derived trom her late husband, to retain it on marrvnjcr a-o;„ t. was alwnys the easiest course to fall in with u'sag^e' but \i % .11 M^ 330 THE MARKET-PLACE he had any feelings on the subject, and preferred to have her insist on being called Mrs. Thorpe, she would meet his wishes with entire willi i ; no :.s. ' . had seemed to him, as to her, that it was wisest to il.low udage to settle the matter. Some months after their marriage there appeared in the papers what purported to be an authoritative an- nouncement that the Queen objected to the practice among ladies who married a second time, of '-et-'. '-g titles acquired by the earlier marriages, and that the lists of precedency at Buckingham Palace would henceforth take this into acconnt. Lady Cressage showed this to her husband, and i Iked again with candour on the subject. She said she had always rather regretted the decision they origin..l|y came to, and even now could wish that it might be altered, but that to effect a change in the face of this newspaper paragraph would seem servile— and in this as in most other things he agreed with her. As she said, vhey wanted nothing of Buckinsrham Palace. She wanted equally little, it seemed, of the society which the neighbouring district might afford. There was a meagre rcuitine of formal calls kept in languid opera- tion, Thorpe knew, but it was so much in the background that he never came in contact with it. His own notions of the part he ought to take in Ccinty affairs had under- gone a silent and unnoted, yet almost sw eping, change. What little he saw of the -entr" and f ong local men with whom he would have to work, quietly undermined and dismantled all his ambitions in that direction. They were not his sort ; their st^aaurds for the measureiiicnt of things were unintelligible to him. He did not doubt that, if he set himself about it, he could imp. . ; his domin- ion upon them, any more than he ' nbted that, if he mastered the Chinese language, he co lif himself to be but the one would be a^; aunakural and un- ( rred to have would meet wed to him, settle the re appeared iritative an- ctice among ". ■'■'g titles the lists of :eforth take this to her the subject, he decision wish that it in the face 'ile — and in 2r. As she ace. the society There was guid opera- )ackground 'wn notions had under- ig, change. local men indermined on. They jasureuient 1 not doubt his domin- that. if he mself to be ;al and un- THE MARKET-PLACE 331 attractive an enterprise as the other. He came to be upon nodding terms with most of the " carriage-people " round about ; some few he exchanged meaningless words with upon occasion, and understood that his wife also talked with, when it was unavoidable, but there his relationship to the County ended, and he was well pleased that it should be so. It gave him a deep satisfaction to see that his wife seemed also well pleased. He used the word " seemed " in his inmost musings for It was never quite certain what really did please and displease her. It was always puzzling to him to reconcile her undoubted intellectual activity with the practical emptiness of the existence she pruicssed to enjoy. In one direction, she had indeed a genuine outlet for her energies which he could understand her regarding in the light of an occupation. She was crazier about flowers and plants than anybody he had ever heard of, and it had delighted him to make over to her, labelled jocosely as the bouquet- func, a sum of money which, it seemed to him, mi-^ht have lid for the hanging-gardens of Babvlon. It yielded in time emerging slowly but steadily from a prodigious litter < ..tnent and bricks and mortar and putty, under the hands of" uiumerable masons, carpenters, glaziers plumbers, auu nondescript subordinates, all of whom talked unwearyingly about nothing at all, and suffered no man to perform any part of his allotted task without suspending the-r own labours to watch him-an imposing long line of new greenhouses, more than twenty in numb r The mail-bag was filled meanwhile with nurserymen'* catalogues, and the cart made incessant journeys to and from Punsey station, bringing back vast straw-enwrapped baskets and bundles and boxes beyond counting, the arrival and unpacking of which was with Kdith the*evc=-t of the day. About the reality of her engrossed ktrrest^ia 'III 332 THE MARKET-PLACE all the stages of progress by which these greenhouses be- came crowded museums of the unusual and abnormal in plant-life, it was impossible to have any suspicion. And even after they were filled to overflowing, Thorpe noted with joy that this interest seemed in no wise to flag. She spent hours every day unuer the glass, exchanging com- ments and theories with her gardeners, and even pulling things about with her own hands, and other hours she devoted almost as regularly to supervising the wholesale alterations that had been begun in the gardens outside. There were to be new paths, new walls with a southern exposure, new potting sheds, new forcing pits, new every- thing — and in the evenings she often worked late over the maps and plans she drew for all this. Thorpe's mind found it difficult to grasp the idea that a lady of such notable qualities could be entirely satisfied by a career among seeds and bulbs and composts, but at least time brought no evidences of a decline in her horticultural zeal. Who knew ? Perhaps it might go on indefinitely. As for himself, he had got on very well without any special inclination or hobby. He had not done any of the great things that a year ago it had seemed to him he would forthwith do — but his mind was serenely undisturbed by regrets. He did not even remember with any distinctness what these things were that he had been going to do. The routine of life — as arranged and borne along by the wise and tactful experts who wore the livery of High Thorpe — was abundantly sufficient in itself. He slept well now in the morning hours, and though he remained still, by com- parison, an early riser, the bath and the shaving and slow dressing under the hands of a valet consumed comfort- ably a good deal of time. Throughout the day he was under the almost constant observation of people who were calling iiim ** master" in their minds, and watching to THE MARKET-PLACE iiliouses be- ibnormal in cion. And borpe noted ) flag. She nging com- ven pulling r hours she e wholesale :ns outside, a southern new every- ite over the )rpe's mind idy of such Dy a career : least time iltural zeal, tely. without any ; any of the m he would isturbed by distinctness :o do. The by the wise h Thorpe— ;vell now in ill, by com- ig and slow id comfort- iay he was e who were etching to 333 see how, in the smallest details of deportment, a " master " carried himself, and the consciousness of this alone amounted to a kind of vocation. The house itself made demands upon him nearly as definite as those of the serv- ants. It was a house of huge rooms, high ceilings, and grandiose fireplaces and stairways, which had seemed to him like a royal palace when he first beheld it, and still produced upon him an effect of undigestible largeness and strangeness. It was as a whole not so old as the agents had represented it, by some centuries, but it adapted Itself as little to his preconceived notions of domesticity as if It had been built by Druids. The task of seeming to be at home in it had as many sides to it as there were minutes in the day— and oddly enough, Thorpe found in their study and observance a .congenial occupation. Whether he was reading in the library— where there was an admirable collection of books of worth— or walking oyer the home-farms, or driving in his smart stanhope with the coachman behind, or sitting in formal costume and dignity opposite his beautiful wife at the dinner-table, the sense of what was expected of him was there, steadying and restraining, like an atmospheric pressure. Thus far they had had few visitors, and had accepted no invitations to join house-parties elsewhere. They agreed without speaking about it that it was more their form to entertain than to be entertained, and certain peo- ple were coming to them later in the month. These were quite wholly of Edith's set and selection, for Thorpe had no friends or acquaintances outside her circle for whose presence he had any desire— and among these prospective guests were a Duke and a Duchess. Once, such a fact would have excited Thorpe's imagination. He regarded it now as somethincr nnnrnnr-qf^. '-t'Ho.- i-Urs ^:-._.,^„4. and gave it little further thought. His placid, satisfied ^ ,1 ( ■^^p^^awg-M.ffl.^*^- 'jg^:, , 334 THE MARKET-PLACE life was not dependent upon the stir of guests coming and going, even thougli they were the great of the earth. He walked on his spacious terrace after luncheon— a tall, portly, well-groomed figure of a man, of relaxed, easy aspect, with his big cigar, and his panama hat, and his loose clothes of choice fabrics and exquisite tailoring — and said to himself that it was the finest view in England — and then, to his own surprise, caught himself in the act of yawning. From under the silk curtains and awning of a window- doorway at the end of the terrace, his wife issued and came toward him. Her head was bare, and she had the grace and fresh beauty of a young girl in her simple light gown of some summery figured stuff. " What do you say .to going off .somewhere — tomorrow if you like — travelling abroad ? " he called out, as she ap- proached him. The idea, only a moment old in his mind, had grown to great proportions. " How can we ? " .she asked, upon the briefest thought. " T/iey are coming at the end ot the week. This is Mon- day, and they arrive on the 12th— that 's this Saturday." " So soon as that ! " he exclaimed. " I thought it was later. H-m ! I don't know— I think perhaps I '11 go up to London this evening. I 'm by way of feeling restless all at once. Will you come up with me ? " She shook her head. " I can't think of anything in London that would be tolerable." He gave a vague little laugh. " I shall probably hate it myself when I get there," he speculated. "There is n't anybody T want to .see— there is n't anything I want to do. I don't know — i)erhaps it might liven me up." Her face took on a look of enquiring gravity. " Are you eettinix tired of it. tlieu ? " She put the questiou gently, almost cautiously. THE MARKET-PLACE 335 :oming and earth. He on — a tall, axed, easy at, and his oring — and England — ■ in the act a window- issued and he had the imple light -tomorrow as she ap- i his mind, 5t thought, lis is Mon- 5aturday." ight it was I '11 go up ;ig restless lything in bably hate "There nything I n me up. ' ' y. " Are ; qucstioa He reflected a little. " Why— no," he answered, as if reasoning to himself. " Of course I 'm not. This is what I ''.-e always wanted. It 's my idea of life to a ' t.' Only — I suppose everything needs a break in it now and then— if only for the comfoit of getting back into the old rut again." " The rut — yes," she commented, mu.singly. " Appar- ently there 's always a rut." Thorpe gave her the mystified yet uncomplaining glance she knew so well in his eyes. For once, the im- pulse to throw hidden things up into his range of view prevailed with her. " Do you know," she said, with a confused half-smile at the novelty of her mood for elucidation, " I fancied a rut was the one thing there could be no question about with you. 1 had the notion that you were incapable of ruts— and conventional grooves. I thought you— as Carlyle puts it— I thought you were a man who had swallowed all the formulas." Thorpe looked down at his .stomach doubtfully. " I see what you mean," he said at last, but in a tone without any no*2 of conviction. " I doubt it," she told him, with light readiness—" for I don't see myself what I mean. I forget indeed what it was I said. And so you think you '11 go up to town torl-ht ? " A sudden comprehension of what was slipping away from his grasp aroused him. " No— no," he u-ged her, " don't forget what it was you said ! I wish you 'd talk more with me about that. It was what I wanted to hear. You never tell me what you 're really thinking about." She received the reproach with a mildly incredulous Sitnle in her eyes. ''' Yes — I know — who \v;i.s it used to scold me '^bout that? Oh "— hhe seemed suddenly re- ';4 336 THE MARKET-PLACE m minded of something—" I was forgetting to mention it. I have a letter from Celia Madden. She is back in Eng- land ; she is coming to us Saturday, too." He put out his lips a trifle. " That 's all right," he objected, " but what has it got to do with what we were talking about ? " "Talking about?" she queried, with a momentarily blank countenance. " Oh, she used to bully me about my deceit, and treachery, and similar crimes. But I shall be immensely glad to see her. I always fight with her, but I think I like her better than any other woman alive." " I like her too," Thorpe was impelled to say, with a kind of solemnity. " She reminds me of some of the happiest hours in my life." His wife, after a brief glance into his face, laughed pleasantly, if with a trace of flippancy. " You say nice things," she observed, slightly inclining her head. " But now that Celia is coming, it would be as well to have another man. It 's such dreadfully short notice, though. ' ' " I daresay your father could come, all right," Thorpe suggested. " I 'd rather have him than almo.st anyone else. Would you mind asking him — or shall I ? " An abrupt silence marked this introduction of a subject upon which the couple had differed openly. Thorpe, through processes unaccountable to himself, had passed from a vivid di.slike of General Kervick to a habit of mind in which he thoroughly enjoyed having him about. The General had been twice to High Thorpe, and on each oc- casion had so prolonged his stay that, in retrospect, the period of his absence .seemed inconsiderable. The master now, thinking upon it in this minute of silence, was con- scious of having missed him greatly. He would not have been bored to the extremity of threatening to go to Lon- don, if Kervick had been here. The General was a THE MARKET-PLACE 337 mention it. ack in Eng- 1 right," he hat we were nomentarily y me about But I shall ht with her, man alive." say, with a ome of the ze, laughed 'ou say nice jad. " But 'ell to have e, though." It," Thorpe lost anyone I?" of a subject Thorpe, had passed bit of mind bout. The on each oc- rospect, the The master e, was con- Id not have go to Lon- :ral was a gentleman, and yet had the flexible adaptability of a re- tainer ; he had been trained in discipline, and hence knew how to defer without becoming fulsome or familiar ; he was a man of the world and knew an unlimited number of racy stories, and even if he repeated some of them unduly, they were better than no stories at all. And then, there was his matchless, unfailing patience in play- ing chess or backgammon or draughts or bezique, what- ever he perceived that the mastei desired. " If you really wis;i it," Edith said at last, coldly. " But that 's what I don't understand," Thorpe urged upon her with some vigour. " If I like him, I don't see why his own daughter " " Oh, need we discuss it ? " she broke in, impatiently. " If I'm an unnatural child, why then I am one, and may it not be allowed to pass at that ? " A stormy kind of smile played upon her beautifully-cut lips as she added : " Surely one's filial emotions are things to be taken for granted— relieved from the necessity of explanation." Thorpe grinned faintly at the hint of pleasantry, but he did not relinquish his ] oint. " Well— unless you really veto the thing— I think I 'd like to tell him to come," he said, with composed obstinacy. Upon an after- thought he added: " There 's no reason why he should n't meet the Duke, is there ? ' ' " No specific reason," she returned, with calm coolness of tone and manner. " And certainly I do not soe myself in the part of Madame Veto." " All right then— I '11 send him a wire," said Thorpe. His victory made him uneasy, yet he saw no way of abandoning it with decorum. As the two, .standing in a silence full of tacit constraint, looked aimlessly away from the terrace, they .saw at the suiuc instant a vehicle with u HJiiglf horse coming rather 4? 1*1 338 THE MARKET-PLACE briskly up the driveway, some hundreds of yards below. It was recognizable at once as the local trap from Punsey station, and as usual it was driven by a boy from the vil- lage. Seated beside this lad was a burly, red-bearded man in respectable clothes, who, to judge from the tin- box and travelling-bags fastened on behind, seemed com- ing to High Thorpe to stay. " Who on earth is that ? " asked Thorpe, wonderingly. The man was obviously of the lower class, yet there seemed something about him which invited recognition. " Presumably it 's the new head-gardener," she replied with brevity. Her accent recalled to Thorpe the fact that there had been something disagreeable in their conversation, and the thought of it was unpleasant to him. " Why, I did n't know you had a new man coming," he said, turn- ing to her with an overture of smiling interest. " Yes," she answered, and then, as if weighing the proffered propitiation and rejecting it, turned slowly and went into the house. The trap apparently ended its course at some back entrance : he did not see it again. He strolled indoors, after a little, and told his man to pack a bag for London, and order the stanhope to take him to the train. ^ards below, from Punsey "rom the vil- red-bearded rom the tin- seemed com- vonderingly. ^here seemed on. ' she replied at there had rsation, and "Why, I le said, turn- t. /eighing the i slowly and some back lied indoors, for I^ondon, in. CHAPTER XXIII IN the early morning, long before any of the hotel people 1 had made themselves heard moving about, Thorpe got up. It was a long time since he had liked himself and his surroundings so little. The bed seemed all right to the eye, and even to the touch, but he had slept very badly in it, none the less. The room was luxuriously furnished, as was the entire suite, but it was all strange and uncom- fortable to his senses. The operation of shaving and dressing in solitude produced an oppression of loneliness. He regretted not having brought his man with him for this reason, and then, upon meditation, for other reasons. A person of his position ought always to have a servant with him. The hotel people must have been surprised at his traveUing unattended— and the people at Hi^li Thorpe must also have thought it strange. It flashed across his mind that no doubt his wife had most of all thought it strange. How would she explain to herself his sudden precipitate journey to London alone ? Might she not quite naturally put an unpleasant construction upon it ? It was bad enough to have to remember that they had parted in something like a tiff ; he found it much worse to be fancying the suspicions with which she would be turn- ing over his mysterious absence in her mind. He went downstairs as speedily as possible and, dis- ^ Tvii .::igu= VT ;;icaR.Ii».>i in tae VlCIuliV ul tiic restaurant, passed out and made his way to the Embank- 339 Ii2SE^^tSSS^^ii_ '*i*^ 340 THE MARKET-PLACE ment. This had been a favourite walk of his in the old days — but he considered it now v/ith an unsj^mpathetic eye. It seemed a dry and haggard and desolate-looking place by comparison with his former impressions of it. The morning was grey-skied, but full of a hard quality of light, which brought out to the uncompromising utter- most the dilapidated squalor of the Surrey side. The water was low, and from the mud and ooze of the ugly opposite shore, or perhaps from the discoloured stream itself, there proceeded a smell which offended his unaccus- tomed nostril. A fitful, gusty wind was blowing from the eastj and ever and again it gathered dust in eddying swoops from the roadway, and flung it in his face. lie walked on toward, the City, without any conscious purpose, and with no very definite reflections. It oc- curred to him that if his wife did impute to him some un- worthy motive in stealing off to London, and made herself unhappy in doing so — that would at least provide the compensation of showing that she cared. The thought, however, upon examination, contained very meagre ele- ments of solace. He could not in the least be sure about any of the workings of her mind. There might be more or less annoyance mixed up this morning with the secret thoughts she had concerning him — or she might not be bothering her head about him at all. This latter con- tingency had never presented itself so frankly to him before. He looked hard at it, and saw more semblances of probability about it than he liked. It might very well be that she was not thinking about him one way or the other. A depressing consciousness that practically nobody need think about him pervaded his soul. Who cared what he said or did or felt ? The City had forgotten his very ex- isteuce. In the West End, only here and there some per- THE MARKET-PLACE s in the old sympathetic late-looking isions of it. lard quality lising utter- side. The of the ugly ired stream lis unaccus- 11 g from the in eddying face. y conscious us. It oc- m some un- lade herself provide the lie thought, meagre ele- ; sure about jht be more h the secret ight uot be latter con- kly to him semblances It very well )ne way or lobody need ed what he lis very ex- e some per- 341 son might chance to remember his name as that of some rich bounder who had married Lady Cressage. Nowhere else in England, save one dull strip of agricultural blank- ness in a backward home county, was there a human be- ing who knew anything whatever about him. And this was his career ! It was for this that he had planned that memorable campaign, and waged that amazing series of fortnightly battles, never missing victory, never failing at any point of the complicated strategy, and crowning i't all with a culminating triumph which had been the won- der and admiration of the whole financial world ! A few score of menials or interested inferiors bowed to him ; he drove some good horses, and was attentively waited upon, and had a never-failing abundance of good things to eat and drink and smoke. Hardly anything more than that, when you came to think of it— and the passing usufruct of all these things could be enjoyed by any fool who had a ten-pound note in his pocket ! What grojss trick had the fates played on him ? He had achieved power— and where was that power ? What had he done with it ? What could he do with it ? He had an excess of wealth, it was true, but in what way could it command an excess of enjoyment ? The very phrase was a paradox, as he dimly perceived. There existed only a narrow margin of advantage in favour of the rich man. He could eat and drink a little more and a little better than the poor man ; he could have better clothes, and lie abed later in the morning, and take life easier all round- but only within hard and fast bounds. There was an ascertained limit beyond which the millionaire could no more stuff himself with food and wine than could the beg- gar. It might be pleasant to take an added hour or two in bed in the mornine;, but to lie in bed nil d?.v '-v^sulH be an infliction. So it ran indefinitely— this thin selvedge I'i !! 342 THE MARKET-PLACE of advantage which money could buy— with deprivation on the one side, and surfeit on the other. Candidly, was it not true that more happiness lay in winning the way out of deprivation, than in inventing safeguards against satiety ? The poor man succeeding in making himself rich— at numerous stages of the operation there might be made a moral snap-shot of the truly happy man. But not after he had reached the top. Then disintegration began at once. The contrast between what he supposed he could do, and what he finds it possible to do, is too vast to be accepted with equanimity. It must be said that after breakfast— a meal which he found in an Italian restaurant of no great cleanliness or opulence of pretension, and ate with an almost novel relish — Thorpe took somewhat less gloomy views of his position. He still walked eastward, wandering into warehouse and shipping quarters skirting the river, hitherto quite un- known to him, and pursuing in an idle, inconsequent fashion his meditations. He established in his mind the proposition that since an excess of enjoyment was impos- sible—since one could not derive a great block of happi- ness from the satisfaction of the ordinary appetites, but at the most could only gather a little from each— the desira- ble thing was to multiply as much as might be those tastes and whims and fancies which passed for appetites, and thus expand the area of possible gratification. This seemed very logical indeed, but it did not apply itself to his individual needs with much facility. What did he want to do that he had not done ? It was difficult for him to say. Perhaps it was chandlers' signs and win- dows about him, and the indefinable seafaring preoccupa- tion suggested by the high-walled, narrow streets, whicK raised the question of a yacht in his mind. Did he want a yacht ' He could recall having once dwelt with great deprivation mdidly, was iiig the way ards against ing himself re might be man. But sintegration tie supposed o do, is too al which he eanhness or novel relish lis position, rehouse ojid D quite an- iconsequent is mind the was impos- ;k of happi- tites, but at -the desira- those tastes letites, and i not apply ity. What vas difficult IS and win- preoccupa- cets. whicU )id he want with great THE MARKET-PLACE 343 fondness upon such a project : doubtless it would still be full of attractions for him. He liked the water, and the water liked him— and he was better able now than formerly to understand how luxurious existence can be made in modern private ships. He decided that he would have a yacht— and then perceived ^ at the decision brought no exhilaration. He was no happier than before. He could decide that he would have anything he chose to name— and it would in no whit lighten his mood. The yacht might be as grand as High Thorpe, and relatively as spacious and well ordered, but would he not grow as tired of the one as he had of the other ? He stopped short at this blunt self-expression of some- thing he had never admitted to himself. Was he indeed tired of High Thorpe ? He had assured his wife to the contrary yesterday. He reiterated the assurance to his own mind now. It was instead that he was tired of him- self. He carried a weariness about with him, which looked at everything with apathetic eyes, and cared for nothing. Some nameless paralysis had settled upon his capacity for amusement and enjovment, and atrophied it. He had had the power to expand his life to the farthest boundaries of rich experience and sensation, and he had delibeiately shrunk into a sort of herbaceous nonentity, whom nobody knew or cared about. He might have had London at his beck and call, and yet of all that the metropohs might mean to a millionaire, he had been able to think of nothing better than that it should send old Kervick to him, to help beguile his boredom with domi- noes and mess-room stories ! Pah ! He was disgusted with himself. Striking out a new course, with the Monument as his guide. Tip nr«»eArif-1ir nnnta i»,f^ « ...__<. _r .1.^ /-«•, . . , 6 , — , J. -,.,,.^ iiiivr a |;uit ui mc Licy wnich had a certain familiarity for him. He walked up St. 344 THE MARKET-PLACE Swithin's Lane, looking at the strange forms of foreign fruit exposed at the shop-doors, and finding in them some fleeting recurrence of the hint that tra-zel was what he needed. Then he stopped, Lo look through the railings and open gateway at an enclosure on the left, and tl 2 substantial, heavily-respectable group of early Victorian buildings beyond. Some well-dressed men were standing talking in one of the porches. The stiff yellowish-stucco pilasters of this entrance, and the tall uniformed figure of the porter in the shadow, came into the picture as he observed it ; they gave forth a suggestion of satisfied smugness— of orderly but altogether unillumiued routine. Nothing could be more commonplace to the eye. Yet to his imagination, eighteen months before, what mysterious marvels of power had lurked hidden behind those conventional portals ! Within those doors, in some inner chamber, sat men whose task it was to direct the movements of the greatest force the world had ever known. They and their cousins in Paris and Frankfort, or wher- ever they lived, between them wielded a vaster authority than all the Parliaments of the earth. They could chanf - a government, or en '« the aspirations of a whole people, or decide a questiot, o ' ..-ace or war, by the silent dictum of their little fam ■ . r mcil. He remembered now how he had stood on thi.= s ?ne spot, and stared with fascinated gaze at this quadrangle of dull houses, and pondered upon what it must feel like to be a Rothschild— and that was only a little over a year ago ! There was no sense of fascination whatever in his present gaze. He found himself regarding instead, with a kind of detached curiosity, the little knot of men in frock-coats and silk-hats who stood talking in the doorway. It was barely ten o'clock, yet clearly business was proceeding within. One of these persons whom he beheld might be THE MARKET-PLACE ns of foreign 11 them some ,vas what he the railings left, and tl: 2 ly Victorian ere standing owish-stucco )rmed figure icture as he of satisfied ned routine, ye. before, what iden behind ors, in some o direct the 2ver known, •rt, or wher- er authority ould chanf ^ liole people, lent dictum ;d now how h. fascinated idered upon id that was his present fvith a kind frock-coats ly. It was ■nrnpppri i n cr i o d might be 345 a Rothschild, for aught he knew ; at any rate, it was pre- sumable that some of them were on the premises. He had heard it said that the very head of the house listened to quotations from the tape while he ate his luncheon, and interrupted his conversations with the most important of non-commercial callers, to make or refuse bargains in shares offered by brokers who came in. What impulse lay behind this extraordinary devotion to labour ? To- ward what conceivable goal could it be striving ? To work hard and risk great things for the possession of a fortune, in order to enjoy it afterward— he could under- stand how that attracted men. But to possp-s already the biggest of human fortunes, and still rk— that baffled him. He wished he knew some of those men in there, especially if they belonged to the place. It would be wonderfully interesting to get at the inner point of view of New Court. A little later, in Colin Semple's office, he sat down to await the coming of that gentleman. ' ' Then he does n' t get here so early nowadays ? " he suggested to the head- clerk who, with instant recognition and exaggerated deference, had ushered him into this furthermost private room. It pleased him to assume that prosperity had re- laxed the Scotchman's vigilance. " Oh yes, sir," the clerk replied. " A bit earlier if any- thing, as a rule. But I think he is stopping at his solici- tors on his way to the City. I hope you are very well, sir. ' ' " Yes— I 'm very fit— thanks," Thorpe said, listlessly, and the other left him. Mr. Seniple, when at last he arrived, bustled into the room with unaffected gratification at the news he had heard without. " Well, well, Thorpe man ! " he cried, and shook hands cordially. " This is fine ! If I 'd only Mall MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1.25 1.4 A /APPLIED IIVHGE Inc ~; leSJ ta«t Mo(n Slrwt r^Z Rochnltr, New York U608 SSSi (716) 48? - 0300 - Phone == (7tS) 288 - S089 -Foil USA ~ 346 THE MARKET-PLACE known you were in town ! Why would n't you have told me you were coming ? I 'd never have kept you waiting." Thorpe laughed wearily. " I hardly knew I was in town myself. I only ran up last night. I thought it would amuse me to have a look round— but things seem as dull as ditchwater." " Oh no," said Seniple, " the autumn is opening verra well indeed. There are more new companies, and a bet- ter public subscription all round, than for any first week of October I remember. Westralians appear bad on the face of things, it 's true-but don't believe all you hear of them. There 's more than the suspicion of a ' rig ' there. Besides, you have n't a penny in them." " I wasn't thinking of that," Thorpe told him, with comprehensive vagueness. " Well, I suppose you 're still coining money," he observed, after a pause. " Keeping along— keeping along," the broker replied, cheerfully. ' ' I canna complain. ' ' Thorpe looked at him with a meditative frown. ' ' Well, what are you going to do with it, after you 've got it ? '' he demanded, almost with sharpness. The Scotchman, after a surprised instant, .smiled. " Oh, I '11 just keep my hands on it," he assured him, lightly. ' '' That is n't what I mean," Thorpe said, groping after what he did mean, with sullen tenacity, among his thoughts. His large, heavy face exhibited a depressed gravity which attracted the other's attention. What ' s the matter ? ' ' Semple asked quickly. ' ' Has anything gone wrong with you ? " Thorpe slowly shook his head. " What better off do you think you '11 be with six figures than you are with five ? " he pursued, with dogmatic insistence. Semple shrugged his shoulders. He sc-med to have THE MARKET-PLACHi t you have e kept you V I was in thought it hings seem 2ning verra and a bet- '• first week bad on the 11 you hear rig ' there. him, with 'ou 're still :er replied, . " Well, 2 got it?" 2d. "Oh, , lightly, •ping after mong his depressed V. " Has ter off do I are with 1 to have 347 grown much brighter and gayer of mood in this past twelvemonth. Apparently he was somewhat stouter, and certainly there was a mellowed softening of his sharp glance and shrewd smile. It was evident that his friend's mood somewhat nonplussed him, but his good-humour was unflagging. " It 's the way we 're taught at school," he hazarded, genially. " In all the arithmetics six beats five, and seven beats six." "They 're wrong," Thorpe declared, and then con- sented to laugh in a grudging, dogged way at his friend's facial confession of puzzlement. " What I mean is— what 's the good of piling up money, while you can't pile up the enjoyments it will buy ? What will a million give you, that the fifth of it, or the tenth of it, won't give you just as well ? " " Aye," said Semple, with a gleam of comprehension in his glance. " So you 've come to that frame of mind, have you ? Why does a man go on and shoot five hun- dred pheasants, when he can eat only one ? " " Oh. if you like the mere making of money, I 've no- thing more to say," Thorpe responded, with a touch of resentment. " I ' ve always thought of you as a man like myself, who wanted to make his pile and then enioy himself" •' ^ The Scotchman laughed joyouslv. " Knjoy myself Like you ! " he cried. " Man, you 're as doleful as a mute at a laird's funeral ! What 's come over vou ? I know what it is. You go and take a course of German waters — -" ^^ "Oh, that be damned ! " Thorpe objected, gloomily. " I tell you I 'm all right. Only— only— God ! I 've a gfeai iiotion to go aiid ^et drunk." Colin Semple viewed his companion with a more sym- 348 The market-place pathetic expression. ■• I •„, «,rry you 're «d hiooed •• W ng 'whiC^ v"^; ■ " '^"'' ^--- thL'r pi! edge of h,s desk, and with patient philosophy took hta «P- Do you mean eighty thousand a year is rot > TW depends upon the man who has it " h-pfstkS:^ " Th:t trthe""™ "! VT" '•'^ with argumentative calm, ess ■ V ''''• "^ o"^"^'^" |ood. I .m notsos^ th:rwhaty ^^^:lt ™i>k. and that make'such ^e ;,:""";::, -"j";^ vacaucv "f t"'*"-> -*-• ' • - - """ y"" nave n t the icj -t 1...UU wmcu niigut be a substitute for tradition. hipped," he ian some pass- are you ? — no igisrot I "he rched on the ?hy took him is rot ? That ther, heavily. > good ! ' ' ^, pursed his he observed ?reat deal of ;en trying to u like large ich country 't come off! e taste for it >usand little !ir mother's en you look iig to worry r labourers, dairymaid nted to get he name of 5 could you n to gossip on in your 1 that. It ven't the " tradition. THE MARKET-PLACE 349 What are you doing in the country, then ? Just eatino- too much, and sitting about, and getting fat and stupid** If you want the truth, there it is for you. " Thorpe, putting out his lips judicially, inclined upon reflection to the view that this was the truth. " That 's all right, as far as it goes." he assented, with hesitation But what the hell else is there ? " The little Scotchman had grown too interested in his diagnosis to drop it in an incomplete state. " A year ago," he went on, " you had won your victories like a veritable Napoleon. You had everything in your own hands ; Napoleon himself was not more the master of what he saw about him than you were. And then what did you do ? You voluntarily retired yourself to your Elba. It was n't that you were beaten and driven there by others ; you went of your own accord. Have you ever thought, Thorpe, of this ? Napoleon was the greatest man of his age—one of the greatest men of all ages— not only in war but in a hundred other ways. He spent the last SIX years of his life at St. Helena-in excellent health and with companions that he talked freely to-and in all the extraordinarily copious reports of his conversations there, we don't get a single sentence worth repeating If you read it, you '11 see he talked like a dull, ordinary body. The greatness had entirely evaporated from him the moment he was put on an island where he had no- thing to do." "Yes-s," said Thorpe, thoughtfully. He accepted the application without any qualms about the splendour of the comparison it rested upon. He had done the great things, just as Semple said, and there was no room r false modesty about them in his mind. ' ' The trouble is ' ' he beean. " thnt T rUH n,u^*- j v-j -,i-,, ^t . '_ ='^'- ^ fiau- always inougiil I wanted to do most. I was quite certain in my mind that "That's "That's THE MARKET-PLACE that was what I wanted. And if we say now that I was wrong— if we admit that that was n't what I really wanted-why then, God knows what it is I do want I '11 be hanged if/ do !" " Come back to the City," Semple told him. where you belong." No— no ! ' ' Thorpe spoke with emphasis. x ixau s where you 're all off. I don't belong in the City at all I hate_ the whole outfit. What the devil amusement would It be to me to take other men's money away from them ? I 'd be wanting all the while to give it back to them. And certainly I would n't get any fun out of their taking my money away from me. Besides, it does n't entertain me. I 've no taste at all for it. I never look at a financial paper now. I could no more interest myself in all that stuff again than I could fly. That 's the hell of it— to be interested in anything." " Go in for politics," the other suggested, with less warmth. " Yes, I know," Thorpe commented, with a lingering tone. " Perhaps I ought to think more about that By the way, what 's Plowden doing ? I 've lost all track of him." "Abroad somewhere, I fancy," Semple replied His manner exhibited a profound indifference. " When his mother died he came into something— I don't know how much. I don't think I 've seen him since-and that must have been six months and more ago." " Yes. I heard about it at the time," the other said It must be about that. His sister and brother— the young Plowdens-they 're coming to us at the end of the week, I believe. You did n't hit it off particularly with Plowden, eh ? " Semple emitted a contemptuous little laugh. " I did !Ow that I was vhat I really is I do want. tn, "That's is. "That's le City at all. 1 amusement y away from ive it back to n out of their 3, it does n't I never look terest myself at 's the hell id, with less ti a lingering nt that. By : all track of THE MARKET-PLACE 351 not quarrel with him— if you mean that," he said, " but even to please you, Thorpe, I could n't bring myself to put my back into the job of making money for him. He was treated fairly — even generously, d' ye mind I should think, all told, he had some thirty thousand pounds for his shares, and that 's a hundred times as much as I had a pleasure in seeing him get. Each man can wear his own parasites, but it 's a task for him to stand another man's. I shook your Lord Plowden oflF, when the chance came." ''That 's all right," Thorpe assured him, easily. " I never told you that he was any good. I merely felt like giving him a leg up— because really at the start he was of use to me. I did owe him something. . . . it was at his house that I met my wife." " Aye," said Semple, with dispassionate brevity. eplied. His " When his 't know how e— and that other said. )rother — the e end of the :ularly with I did CHAPTER XXIV WHEN he had parted with Semple, at a corner where the busy broker, who had walked out with him obviously fidgeted to get away. Thorpe could think of no one else in the City whom he desired to see A call upon his bankers would, he knew, be made an occasion of extremely pleasant courtesy by those affable people but upon reflection it seemed scarcely worth the trouble ' He was in a mood for indolent sauntering, and he made the long stretch of the Holborn thoroughfare in a leisurely fashion, turning off when the whim seized him into odd courts and alley-ways to see what they were like After luncheon, he continued his ramble, passing at last from M. Giles, through avenues which had not existed in the London of his boyhood, to the neighbourhood ot the Dials Here also the landmarks seemed all changed, but there was still enough ostentatious squalor and disorder to identify the district. He observed it and its inhabitants with a certain new curiosity. A notable alteration for the better had come over his spirits. It might be the chanipagne at luncheon, or it might be the mere operation of a frank talk with Semple, that had dissipated his gloom At all events it was gone-and he strolled along in quite placid contentment, taking in the panorama of London's more intimate life with the interest of a Londoner who has obtained a fresh country eye. He who had seen most of the world, and not cared much about the spectacle, found himself now con=c!ously 353 THE MARKET-PLACE 353 a corner where out with him, ould think of to see. A call ie an occasion ifFable people, I the trouble. , and he made i in a leisurely him into odd e like. After : at last from existed in the 3 of the Dials, ed, but there I disorder to s inhabitants iteration for night be the ere operation ed his gloom, long in quite of London's 3ner who has id not cared / conficiously enjoyingobservafon as he had not supposed it possible to do. He surrendered himself to the experience with a found It moreover, under his very nose. In some dull meamngless fashion he had always known this part of Loudon, and been familiar with its external aspects Novv Lint" I '7-™^ '""' '"^ P°"- ^^^ ™- to him oT seeing , all in a different way. The objects he beheld .naniniate and otherwise, had specific new meanings t; thrysafd'toZ' "" '''"'' ^'^^^"^"^ "^ '"^ "--e^ He looked at all the contents of the windows as he passed ,• at the barrows of the costers and hawkers crowd- ing up the side-streets ; at the coarse-haired, bare-headed girls and women standing about in their shawls and big white aprons; at the weakling babies in their arms^ about the thick, clumsy folds of their stained skirt" at the grimy shuffling figures of their men-folk, agt nst'the a^us,»med background of the public-house corLr. wUh «s half-open door, and its fiy-blown theatre-bills n the windows ; at the drivers of the vans and carts, sleepiW overlooking the huge horses, gigantic to the nea view as some survival from the age of mamr- .ths, which pushed gmgerly, ploddingly, their tufted i.., oWr the greasy discerned bent old hags picking over refuse ; at the faces W„^ k? J^"^' "'"' '""^ ^P"^'^' ''"•""' appeal to him-faces blurred with drink, faces pallid with under- feeding, faces worn into masks by the tension of trouM. feces sweetened by resignation, faces aglow with devili may-care glee he looked, as it were, into the ^ttf htbe^Jre."-^"'""^ ^""' '^' ^^'^ --^ Eventually, he found himself halting at the door of his '¥i :.!• 354 THE MARKET-PLACE sister's book-shop. A new boy stood guard over the stock exposed on the shelf and stands outside, and he looked stonily at the great man ; it was evident that he was as far from suspecting his greatness as his relation- ship. It pleased Thorpe for a little to take up one book after another, and pretend to read from it, and force the boy to watch him hard. He had almost the temptation to covertly slip a volume into his pocket, and see what the lad would do. It was remarkable, he reflected with satisfaction— this new capacity within him to find drama in trifles. There floated into his mind the recollection of some ab- surd squabble he had had with his sister about the sign overhead. He stepped back a few paces and looked up at It. There were the old words—' ' Thorpe, Bookseller ' '— right enough, but they seemed to stand forth with a novel prominence. Upon a second glance, he saw that the board had been repainted. At this he laughed aloud. The details of the episode came back to him now. For some reason, or no reason at all— he could not now imagine what on earth could have prompted him— he had last spring caused his sister to be informed of his wish that her own name, Dabney, should be substituted for that of Thorpe on her sign. It was to Julia that he had confided this mission, and it was Julia who, in a round- about way, had disclosed to him presently her mother's deep resolution to do nothing of the sort. He laughed again at the added defiance that this refurbishing of the old sign expressed, and still was grinning broadly as he entered the shop and pushed his way along to the rear. She stood beside her desk as she seemed to have stood ever since he could remember her— tall, placid, dull-eyed, self-sufficient, exhaling as it were a kind of stubborn yet COtTinptf»nf- 1ic^1f>ccnpcc TJ^... 1 -^„ t» luunnish couuteuance ard over the :side, and he ident that he his relation- up one book and force the e temptation ind see what eflected with find drama 1 of some ab- out the sign looked up at )okseller " — with a novel iw that the ghed aloud. 1 now. For Id not now lim — he had of his wish )stituted for that he had in a round- er mother's He laughed ihing of the "oadly as he the rear. have stood , dull-eyed, ubborn yet ouuteuance THE MARKET-PLACE 355 expressed an undoubted interest in his presence, when she recognized him, but he had no clear perception whether it was pleased or otherwise. In their infrequent atter-day encounters he had dropped the habit of kissing her, and there was certainly no hint in her manner of ex- pecting, much less inviting, its renewal now— but upon a sudden impulse he drew her to him with an arm flung round her gaunt waist, smacked his lips with effusion upon her cheek. Her surprise, as she withdrew herself somewhat force- fully from his embrace, was plain enough. " Well ! " she exclaimed vaguely, and then looked at him. " You 're getting fatter." " No I 'm not," he rejoined, with the earnestness be- longing to an important topic. ' ' People think I am-but It 's merely the looseness of these clothes. There 's really no difference since I was here last." The glance they exchanged was so full of the tacit com- ment that this last visit was a long time ago, that Thorpe put it into words. " Let 's see-that was just before Christmas, was n't it ? " he said. " Something like that," she responded. " You were going to get married in a week or two, I remember and iAat was in January, was n't it ? I was taking stock I know." * He n. daed in turn. The thought that his only sister recalled his marriage merely as a date, like a royal anniversary or . bank-holiday, and held herself implac- ably aloof from all contact with his domestic life an- noyed him afresh. " You 're an ax ^ul goat, not to come near us," he felt impelled, in brotherly frankness, to tell her. She put out her lips, and wagged her head a little in - gesture which it flashed acrossTim his own mirrormight 356 THE MARKET-PLACE often have recorded. " I thought that was all settled and done with long ago," she said, moodily. " Oh, I won't worry you with it, L,ou," he observed, with reassuring kindness of tone. " I never felt so much like being nice to you in my life." She seemed surprised at this, too, and regarded him with a heavy new fixity of gaze. No verbal comment, apparently, occurred to her. " Julia and Alfred all right ? " he queried, cheerfully. * ' I daresay, ' ' she made brief answer. " But they write to you, don't they ? " " She does — sometimes. They seem to be doing them- selves very well, from what she says." " She 'd write oftener, if you 'd answer her letters," he told her, in tones of confidential reproach. " Oh, I don't write letters unless I 've got something to say," she answered, as if the explanation were ample. The young people were domiciled for the time being at Dusseldorf, where Alfred had thought he would most like to begin his Continental student-career, and where Julia, upon the more or less colourable pretext of learning the language, might enjoy the mingled freedom and occupa- tion of a home of her own. They had taken a house for the summer and autumn, and would do the same i.i Dres- den or Munich, later on, for the winter. " What I would really have liked," Thorpe confided to his sister now, ' * was to have had them both live with me. They would have been as welcome as the day is long. I could see, of course, in Alfred's case, that if he 's set on being an artist, he ought to study abroad. Even the best English artists, he says, do that at the beginning. So it was all right for him to go. But Julia — it was different with her — I was rather keen about her staying. My wite was just as keen as I was. She took the greatest fancy to .11 settled and THE MARKET-PLACE 357 Julia from the very start-r i so far as I could see Tuli. ro stay— but somehov/ she did n't." "She always spoke very highly of your wife " Mrs Dabney affirmed with judicial fairness " I think she does like her very much." hose Dutchmen for, when one of the best houses in UiJ- land was open to her ? " Thorpe demanded. ^ You must n't ask me," her mother responded Her tone seemed to carry the suggestion that by silence she could best protect her daughter's interests. I don't believe you know any more about it than I do, was his impulsive comment '•PrLtr? ^y\ ?" ''^^''^' ""^ indifference. nZ ui ^ ^'^ "^ ^"""y ^^^^"^ i» «^ big a house- fn'stlhtgsr ^ '^^^^ '-' '''- - ^^^ --^^ ^^-t -^Did she say ^o ? " Thorpe asked abruptly. " Jjf; .^^r «^°ok her head with dispassionate candour. other T ? ' '"J '"^''"'^^ '" "^^ ^^°^^ ^^' -- -^y or the otner. l formed my own impressions-that 's all It '«; a free country. Everybody can form ^leir impressions. ' I wish you 'd tell me what you really think, " Thorpe urged her, mildly persuasive. " You know h;w fond I am of Juha, and how little I want to do her an injustice '' vaguely. If you ask me plain, I think it was dull fo^ be"s!!!^!!f /v^'^^'"'^^' "P°" reflection, " I should n't be surprised If it was. I had n't thought of that. But still-why she and my wife could be company for each " You talk as if life was merely a long railway journey , " THE MARKET-PLACE she told him, in an unexpected flight of metaphor. ' ' Two women cooped up in a lonesome country house may be a little less lonely than one of them by herself would be — but not much. It 's none of my business — but how your wife must hate it ! " He laughed easily. " Ah, that 's where you 're wrong," he said. " She does n't care about anything but garden- ing. That 's her hobby. She 's crazy about it. We 've laid out more in new greenhouses alone, not counting the plants, than would rebuild this building. I 'm not sure the heating apparatus would n't come to that, alone. And then the plants ! What do you think of six and eight guineas for a single root ? Those are the amarylli.ses — and if you come to orchids, you can pay hundreds if you like. Well, that 's her passion. That 's what she really loves." " That 's what she seizes upon to keep her from just dying of loneliness," Louisa retorted, obstinately, and at a sign of dissent from her brother she went on. " Oh, I know what T 'm talking about. I have three or four customers — ladies in the country, and one of them is a lady of title, too — and they order gardening books and other books through me, and when they get up to town, once a year or so, they come here and they talk to me about it. And there is n't one of them that at the bot- tom of her heart does n't hate it. They 'd rather dodge busses at Charing Cross corner all day long, than raise flowers as big as cheeses, if they had their own way. But they don't have their own way, and they must have something to occupy themselves with — and they take to gardening. I daresay I 'd even do it myself if I had to live in the country, which thank God I don't ! " " That 's because you don't know anything about the country," he told her, but the retort, even while it justi- iphor. "Two ouse may be a elf would be — -but how your ou 're wrong," ig but garden- lUt it. We 've »t counting the I 'm not sure t, alone. And six and eight i amaryllises — undreds if you vhat she really her from just inately, and at ton. "Oh, I three or four ; of them is a ing books and et up to town, ley talk to me »at at the bot- d rather dodge ing, than raise Dwn way. But ey must have id they take to ielf if I had to I't !" Iiing about the 1 while it justi- THE MARKET-PLACE 359 fied itself, had a hollow sound in his own ears. " All you know outside of I^ondon is Margate. ' ' " I went to Yarmouth and Lowestoft this summer " she informed him, crushingly. Somehow he lacked the heart to laugh. ' ' I know what you mean, Lou," he said, with an affectionate attempt at placation. " I suppose there 's a good deal in what you say. It ^, dull, out there at my place, if you have too much of It. Perhaps that 's a good hint about my wife It never occurred to me, but it may be so. But the deuce of It IS, what else is there to do ? We tried a house in London, during the Season ' • "Yes, I sa : i the papers you were here," she said im- passively, ni comment upon his embarrassed pause. I did n't look you up, because I did n't think you wanted much to see me "-he explained with a certain awkwardness-' ' but bye-gones are all bye-gones. We took a town house, but we did n't like it. It was one endless procession of stupid and tiresome calls and dinner-^ and parties ; we got awfully sick of it, and swore we w.ald n't try it again. Well there you are, don'i you see> It's stupid in Hertfordshire, and it 's stupid here Of course one can travel abroad, but that 's no good for more than a tew months. Of course it would be different if I had something to do. I tell you God's truth, Lou-some- times I feel as if I was really happier when I was a poor man. I know it 's all rot-I really was n't-but some- times It seems as if I was." ^^ She. contemplated him with a leaden kind of gaze Did n t It ever occur to you to do some good with your money ? she .said, with slow bluntness. Then as if fearing a possible misconception, she added more rapidly: mean ^.^Ouj^ yuur own lamiiy. We ^re a clan- nish people, we Thorpes ; we 'd always help our own flesh 36o THE MARKET-PLACE and blood, even if we kicked them while we were doing it — but I mean outside, in the world at large. ' ' " What have I got to do with the world at large ? I did n't make it ; I 'm not responsible for it." He muttered the phrases lightly enough, but a certain fatuity in them seemed to attract his attention when he heard their sound. " I 've given between five and six thousand pounds to London hospitals within the present year," he added, straightening himself. " I wonder you did n't see it. It was in all the papers. ' ' " Hospitals!" It was impossible to exaggerate the scorn which her voice imported into the word. He looked at her with un- feigned surprise, and then took in the impression that she was upon a subject which exceptionally interested her. Certainly the display of something approaching animation in her glance and manner was abnormal. " I said ' do some good with your money,' " she re- minded him, still with a vibration of feeling in her tone. " You must live in the country, if you think London hos- pitals are deserving objects. They could n't fool Lon- doners on that point, not if they had got the Prince to go on his hands and knees. And you give a few big cheques to them," she went on, meditatively, " and you never ask how they 're managed, or what rings are running them for their own benefit, or how your money is spent — and you think you 've done a noble, philanthropic thing ! Oh no — I was n't talking about humbug charity. I was talking about doing some genuine good in the world." He put his leg over the high stool, and pushed his hat back with a smile. " All right," he said, genially. " What do you propose ? " " I don't propose anything," she told him. after a iiiQ- ment 's hesitation. " You must work that out for your- THE MARKET-PLACE were doing it 361 self. What might seem important to me might not interest you at all-and if you were n't interested you would n t do anything. But this I do say to you Joel- and I 've said it to myself every day for this last 'year or more, and had you in mind all the time, too— if I had made a great fortune, and I sat about in purple and fine linen donig nothing but amuse myself in idleness and selfishness, letting my riches accumulate and multiply themselves without being of use to anybody, I should be ashamed to look my fellow-creatures in the face ' You were born here. You know what London slums are like You know what Clare Market was like-it 's bad enough still-and what the Seven Dials and Drury Lane and a dozen other places round here are like to this day That 's only within a stone's throw. Have you seen Charles Booth's figures about the London poor ? Of course you have n't-and it does n't matter. You know what they ""'!, ^'i^l ^V"^ ^^"'^ ^^'"- ^^^ ""^^'•y ^"^ ignorance and filth and hopelessness of two or three hundred thou- sand people does n't interest you. You sit upon your money-bags and smile. If you want the truth, I 'm ashamed to have you for a brother ! " ''Well, I 'm damned!" was Thorpe's delayed and puzzled comment upon this outburst. He looked long at his sister, in blank astonishment. ' ' Since when have you been taken this way?" he asked at last, mechanically jocular. " That 's all right," she declared with defensive incon- sequence. " It -s the way I feel. It 's the way I 've felt from the beginning." He was plainly surprised out of his equanimity by this unlooked-for demonstration on his sister's part. He got o^. ti^e stool and walked about in the little cleared space round the desk. When he spoke, it was to utter some- i 362 THE MARKET-PLACE thing which he could trace to no mental process of which he had been conscious. " How do you know that that is n't what I 've felt too — from the beginning ? " he demanded of her, almost with truculence. ' ' You say I sit on my money-bags and smile — you abuse me with doing no good with my money — how do you know I have n't been studying the subject all this while, and making my plans, and getting ready to act ? You never did believe in me ! " She sniffed at him. " I don't believe in you now, at all events," she said, bluntly. He assumed the expression of a misunderstood man. " Why, this very day " — he began, and again was aware that thoughts were coming up, ready-shaped to his tongue, which were quite strangers to his brain — " this whole day I 've been going inch by inch over the very ground you mention ; I 've been on foot since morning, seeing all the corners and alleys of that whole district for myself, watch- ing the people and the things they buy and the way they live — and thinking out my plans for doing something. I don't claim any credit for it. It seems to me no more than what a man in my position ought to do. But I own that to come in, actually tired out from a tramp like that, and get blown-up by one's own sister for selfishness atid heartlessness and miserliness and all the rest of it — I must say, that 's a bit rum." Louisa did not wince under this reproach as she might have been expected to do, nor was there any perceptible amelioration iu the heavy frown with which she continued to regard him. But her words, uttered after some con- sideration, came in a tone of voice which revealed a desire to avoid ofFen.se. " It won't matter to you, your getting blown-up by me, if you 're really occupying your mind with that sort of thing. You 're too used to it for that." THE MARKET-PLACE )rocess of which lat I 've felt too tier, almost with '■-bags and smile ny money — how i subject all this g ready to act ? I you now, at all nderstood man. igain was aware id to his tongue, " this whole day '■ery ground you g, seeing all the r myself, watch- tid the way they I something. I to me no more do. But I own tramp like that, selfishness at:d est of it — I must ch as she might any perceptible :h she continued after some con- evealed a desire 5U, your getting /ing your mind I to it for that." 363 He would have liked a less cautious acceptance of his assurances than this-but after all. one did not look to Louisa for enthusiasms. The depth of feeling she had d sclosed on this subject of London's poor still astonished rlu ^"^ P""^'P^"y now because of its unlikely source it she had been notoriously of an altruistic and free-handed disposition, he could have understood it. But she had been a ways the hard, dry, unemotional one ; by compari- son with her, he felt himself to be a voladle a"d ev n sentimental person. If she had such views as these, it advanced ^"^ ^'"^ ^^^^ ^'' '"'"'' "''^''^ ""^'^ ^"^^^ ^"^^ " It 's a tremendous subject," he said, with loose large- ness of manner. « ' Only a man who works hard at it can realize how complicated it is. The only way is to start with the understanding that something is going to be done. No matter how many difficulties there are in the way, somei/nn^ 's going to be done! If a strong man starts out with that, why then he can fight his way through, and push the difficulties aside or bend them to suit his purpose, and accomplish something " Mrs Dabney, listening to this, found nothing in it to quarrel with-yet somehow remained, if not skeptical then passively unconvinced. " What are your plans ? "' she asked him. f' ^ f "Oh it 's too soon to formulate anything," he told her, with prepared readiness. " It is n't a thing to rush into ,n a hurry, with half baked theories and limited in- formation Great results, permanent results, are never obtained that way." '' I hope it is n't any Peabody model-dwelling thing " Oh, nothing like it in the least." he assured her, and made a mental note to finH .^„f „,i,„* :^ _, , , - — ^,„ Triaat It was sne naa referred to. I i! I i 364 THE MARKET-PLACE " The Lord-Rowton houses are better, they say," she went on, " but it seems to me that the real thing is that there should n't be all this immense number of people with only fourpence or fivepence in their pocket. That 's where the real mischief lies." He nodded comprehendingly, but hesitated over further words. Then something occurred to him. ' ' Look here ! ' ' he said. ' ' If you 're as keen about all this, are you game to give up this footling old shop, and devote your time to carrying out my plans, when I * ve licked 'em into shape ? ' ' She began shaking her head, but then something seemed also to occur to her. "It '11 be time enough to settle that when we get to it, won't it ? " she observed. " No — you 've got to promise me now," he told her. " Well that I won't ! " she answered, roundly. * ' You 'd see the whole — the whole scheme come to no- thing, would you?" — he scolded at her — " rather than abate a jot of your confounded mulishness." " Aha ! " she commented, with a certain alertness of perception shining through the stolidity of her mien. " I knew you were humbugging ! If you 'd meant what you said, you would n't talk about its coming to nothing because I won't do this or that. I ought to have known better. I 'm always a goose when I believe what you tell me." A certain abstract justice in her reproach impressed him. " No you 're not, Lou," he replied coaxingly. " I really mean it all — every word of it — ana more. It only occurred to me that it would all go better, if you helped. Can't you understand how I should feel that ? " She seemed in a grudging way to accept anew his pro- fessions of sincerity, but she resisted all attempts to ex- tract any promise. " I don't believe in crossing a bridge till I get to it," she declared, when, on the point of his they say," she al thing is that nber of people Dcket. That's ed over further "Look here !" ., are you game te your time to Q into shape ? ' ' aething seemed h to settle that i. he told her. undly. me come to no- -" rather than in alertness of of her mien, 'd meant what ling to nothing to have known ieve what you Impressed him. :ly. "I really t only occurred helped. Can't t anew his pro- ittempts to ex- 3ssing a bridge le point of his THE MARKET-PLACE 365 departure, he last raised the question, and it had to be left at that. He took with him some small books she had tied in a parcel, and told him to read. She had spoken so confi- dently of their illuminating value, that he found himself quite committed to their perusal-and almost to their endorsement. He had thought during the day of running down to Newmarket, for the Cesarewitch was to be run on the morrow, and someone had told him that that was worth seeing. By the time he reached his hotel how- ever, an entirely new project had possessed his mind. He packed his bag, and took the next train for home is! is »;!S ill :i li ill ' I CHAPTER XXV DID n't ask your father, after all," was one of the things that Thorpe said to his wife next day. He had the manner of one announcing a concession, albeit in an affable spirit, and she received the remark with a scant, silent nod. , Two days later he recurred to the subject. They were again upon the terrace, where he had been lounging in an easy-chair most of the day, with the books his sister had bid him read on a table beside him. He had glanced through some of them in a desultory fashion, cutting pages at random here and ^'^ere, but for the most part he had looked straight b'-fore him at the broad landscape, mel- lowing now into soft browns and yellows under the mild, vague October sun. He had not thought much of the books, but he had a certain new sense of enjoyment in the fruits of this placid, abstracted rumination which per- haps they had helped to induce. " About your father," he said now, as his wife, who had come out to speak with him on some other matter, was turning to go away again : " I 'm afraid I annoyed you the other day by what I said." " I have no recollection of it," she told him, with tran- quil politeness, over her shoulder. He found himself all at once keenly desirous of a con- versation on this topic. " But I wani you to recollect," he said, as he rose to his feet. There was a suggestion of urgency iu his tone which arrested her attention. She 366 Nas one of the lext day. He ssion, albeit in s. with a scant, t. They were ounging in an 3 his sister had i had glanced , cutting pages )st part he had audscape, mel- nder the mild, t much of the ' enjoyment in ion which per- his wife, who other matter, raid I annoyed lim, with tran- irous of a con- 1 to recollect," IS a suggestion .ttention. She THE MARKET-PLACE 367 moved slowly toward the chair, and after a little perched herself upon one of its big arms, and looked up at him where he leant against the parapet. " I 've thought of it a good deal," he went on, in halt- ing explanation. His purpose seemed clearer to him than were the right phrases in which to define it. "I per- sisted in saying that I 'd do something you did n't want me to do— something that was a good deal more your affair than mine— and I 've blamed myself for it. That is n't at all what I want to do." Her face as well as her silence showed her to be at a loss for an appropriate comment. She was plainly surprised, and seemingly embarrassed as well. " I 'm sure you always wish to be nice," she said at last. The words and tone were alike gracious, but he • detected in them somewhere a perfunctory note. "Oh— nice!" he echoed, in a sudden stress of im- patience with the word. " Damn being ' nice ' ! Any- body can be 'nice.' I 'm thinking of something ten thousand times bigger than being ' nice.' " "I withdraw the word immediately— unreservedly," she put in, with a smile in which he read that genial mockery he knew so well. " You laugh at me— whenever I try to talk seriously " he objected. " I laugh ? " she queried, with an upward glance of de- murely simulated amazement. " Impossible ! I assure you I 've forgotten how." "Ah, now we get to it ! " he broke out, with energy. You 're really feeling about it just as I am. You 're not satisfied with what we 're doing-with the life we 're lead- ing—any more than I am. I see that, plain enough, now. I did n't dream of it before. Somehow I got the idea that you were enjoying it immensely— the greenhouses and ill tii tit THE MARKET-PLACE ,lii Hn, gardens and all that sort of thing. And do you know who it was that put me right— that told me you hated it?" "Oh, don't let us talk of him!'' Edith exclaimed, swiftly. Thorpe laughed. " You 're wrong. It wasn't your father. I did n' t see him. No— it was my sister. She 's never seen you, but all the same she knew enough to give me points. She told me I was a fool to suppose you were happy here." " How clever of her ! " A certain bantering smile ac- companied the words, but on the instant it faded away. She went on with a musing gravity. " I 'm sorry I don't get to know your sister. She seems an extremely real sort of person. I can understand that she might be diflS- cult to live with— I daresay all genuine characters are— but she 's very real. Although, apparently, conversation is n't her strong point, still I enjoy talking with her." "How do you mean?" Thorpe asked, knitting his brows in puzzlement. " Oh, I often go to her shop— or did when I was in town. I went almost immediately after our — our return to England. I was half afraid she would recognize me— the portraits in the papers, you know— but apparently she did n't. And it 's splendid— the way she says absolutely nothing more than it 's necessary to say. And her can- dour ! If she thinks books are bad she says so. Fancy that!" He still frowned uneasily as he looked down at her. " You never mentioned to me that you had gone there," he told her, as if in reproach. "Ah, it was complicated," Edith explained. "She objects to knowing me— I think secretly I respect her a great deal for that— and therefore there is somuthiag do you know me you hated ith exclaimed, t was n't your ' sister. She 's enough to give ppose you were fcering smile ac- it faded away, m sorry I don't extremely real ; might be difl&- haracters are — y, conversation T with her." d, knitting his when I was in >ur — our return recognize me — ; apparently she says absolutely And her can- jays so. Fancy i down at her. ad gone there," plained. " She I respect her a :e is something THE MARKET-PLACE 369 Clandestine about my getting to know her-and I could not be sure how it would impress you, and really it seemed simplest not to mention it. " h„t LVr'' r^' ^^°°''" ^^ ^""^"^"^' gr^ve-faced still, but with a softer voice. " Do you remember what I said the other day ? It would make all the difference in the world to me. if-if you were really-actually my other The phrase which he had caught at seemed, as it fell upon the air, to impregnate it with some benumbing quality. The husband and wife looked dumbly, almost vacantly at one another, for wh^t appeared a long time. a Jt ZT "^^^ t' ''"'' ^^"""^^ ^°"°^ ^°°^"^' ^°d ^ven thZL ir'^-1' ^' P^^^r^^^^d-* ' I mean, if you shared things really with me ! Oh, I 'm not complaining ; you must n't think that. The agreement we made at ^he start-you 've kept your part of it perfectly. You 've done better than that : you 've kept still about the fact tnat It made you unhappy." ♦i,'l^.V°'" f^ '"terposed, gently. " It is not the fact tnat it has made me unhappy." t>a!!J'"~T?''''"''"''^' '^'°'" ^" ''^^"°^^^' without pause. Here we are. We do the thing we want to do -we make the kind of home for ourselves that we 've agreed we would like-and then it turns out that some- how It does n t come up to expectations. You get tired of It. I suppose, if the truth were known, I 'm by way of being tired of it too. Well, if you look at it. that fact IS the most important thing in the world for both of us. It s the one thing thpt we ought to be most anxious to discuss, and examine frankly in all its bearings-in order to see if we can't better it-but that 's precisely the thing that does n't get talked about between n<^ Y-" would never have told me that you were unhappy—""'"^ fl f 170 THE MARKET-PLACE iiipr hiiifl ■,\ii ■>'■ I i " You use the word again," she reminded him, a wan smile soften ill.-, her protest. Thorpe stood up, and took a slow step toward the chair. He held her glance with his own, as he stood then, his head bent gravely regarding her. " Do you tell me that you are happy ? " he asked, with sober directness. She fluttered her hands in a little restrained gesture of comment. " You consider only the extremes," she tcid him. " Between black and white there are so many colours and shades and half-tones ! The whole spectrum, in fact. Hardly anybody, I should think, gets over the edge into the true black or the true white. There are always tints, modifications. People are always inside the colour-scheme, so to speak. The worst that can be said of me is that I may be in the blues — in the light-blues — but it is fair to remember that they photograph white." Though there was an impulse within him to resent this as trifling, he resisted it, and judicially considered her allegory. '' That is to say " — he began hesitatingly. " To the observer I am happy. To myself I am not unhappy." " Why won't you tell me, Edith, just where you are ? " The sound of her name was somewhat unfamiliar to their discourse. The intonation which his voice gave to it now caused her to look up quickly. " If I could tell myself," she answered him, after an instant's thought, " pray believe that I would tell you." The way seemed for the moment blocked before him, and he si^r'.^ed heavily. " i wai t ! j get nea er to you," he said, with gloom, " and f !>'>(> ' It occurred to her to remark : " You take exception to my phraseology when I say you always try to be * nice, * but I 'm sure you know what I mean." She offered him Jii'iP^ led him, a wan ward the chair, stood then, his he asked, with ned gesture of :mes," she trld are so many :hole spectrum, , ge'^^s ever the te. There are /vays inside the lat can be said le Hght-blues — raph white." n to resent this considered her ;sitatingly. yself I am not lere you are ? " ; unfamiliar to s voice gave to i him, after an mid tell you." :ed before him, leaer to you," ke exception to ry to be ' nice,* 5he offered him THE MARKET-PLACE 371 ^^s assurance with a tentative smile, into which he gazed " You did n't think I was ' nice ' when you consented to marry me," he was suddenly inspired to sav. " I can't imagine your applying that word to me then in your mind God knows what it was you did say to yourself about me" but you never said I was ' nice. ' That was the last word that would have fitted me then-and now it 's the only one you can think of." The hint that somehow he had stumbled upon a clue to the mysteries enveloping him rose to prominence in his mind as he spoke. The vear had wrought a baffling difference in him. He lac ed something now that then he had possessed, but he was powerless to define it. , i- "c was He seated himself again in the ch.ir, and put his hand through her arm to keep her where she lightly rested be- side him. •' Will you tell me." he . udrwith a kfnd of sombre gentleness, "what the word . that you would have used then? I know you would n't-could n't-- have called me 'nice.' What would you have called rhf^ ^Tf '^ '"'""" ^°' ^ ""^^' ^^^" -^^'PP^d from the chair and stood erect, still leaving her u rist within the restraining curve of his fingers. ' ' I suppose, ' ' she said ^ed^othepL" ''''''-' '^^ -- -^ '- ^- "And I am weak now— I am ' nice,' " he reflected mechanically. renectea. In the profile he saw, as she looked awaj at the vast distant horizon, there was something pensive, even sad. She did not speak at once, and as he gazed at her more narrowly it seemed as if her lips were quiverin^T. A new sense 01 ner great beauty came to him-and with it a hint fMi 372 THE MARKET-PLACE that for the instant at least her guard was down. He sprang to his feet, and stood beside her. " You are going to be open with me — Edith ! " he pleaded, softly. She turned from him a little, as if to hide the signs of her agitation. "Oh, what is there to say?" she de- manded, in a tone which was almost a wail. " It is not your fault. I 'm not blaming you." " What is not my fault?" he persisted with patient gentleness. Suddenly she confronted him. There were the traces of tears upon her lashes, and serenity had fled from her face. " It is a mistake — a blunder, ' ' she began, hurriedly. " I take it all upon my own shoulders. I was the one who did it. I should have had more judgment — more good sense ! " "You are not telling me, are you," he asked with gravity, " that you are sorry you married me ? " "Is either of us glad?" .she retorted, breathlessly, ' * What is there to be glad about ? You are bored to death — you confess it. And I — well, it is not what I thought it would be. I deceived myself. I do not re- proach you." " No, you keep saying that," he observed, with gloomy slowness of utterance. " But what is it you reproach yourself with, then ? We might as well have it out." " Yes," she assented, with a swift reversion to calm. Her eyes met his with a glance which had in it an im- placable frankness. " I married one man because he would be able to make me a Duchess. I married another because he had eighty thousand a year. That is the kind of beast I am. There is bad blood in me. You know my father ; that is quite enough. I am his daughter ; that explains everything." as down. He -Edith ! " he ie the signs of ay ? " she de- il. "It is not I with patient /ere the traces . fled from her jan, hurriedly. I was the one Jgnient — more le asked with le ? " breathlessly, are bored to s not what I I do not re- I, with gloomy you reproach ve it out." rsion to calm, i in it an iiii- n because he arried another lat is the kind You know my aughter ; that THE MARKET-PLACE 373 The exaggeration of her tone and words produced a curious effect upon him. He stared at her for a little perceiving slowly that a new personage was being re- vealed to him. The mask of delicately-balanced cynicism, of amiably polite indifference, had been lifted ; there was a woman of flesh and blood beneath it, after all— a woman to whom he could talk on terms of intimacy. " Rubbish ! " he said, and his big face lightened into a genial, paternal smile. " You did n't marry me for my money at all ! What nonsense ! I simply came along and carried you off. You could n't help yourself. It would have been the same if I had n't had sixpence." To his sharp scrutiny there seemed to flicker in her eyes a kind of answering gleam. Th.n she hastily averted her glance, and in this action too there was a warrant for his mounting confidence. " The trouble has been," he declared, " that I 've been too much afraid of you. I 've thought that you were made ot so much finer stuff than I am, that you must n't be touched. That was all a mistake. I see it right enough now. You arc finer than I am-God knows there 's no dispute about that-but that 's no reason why I should have hung up signs of ' Hands off ! ' all around you. and been frightened by them myself. I had the cheek to capture you and carry you off-and I ought to have had the pluck to make you love me afterward, and keep It up. And that 's what I 'm going to do ! " To this declaration she offered no immediate reply, but continued to gaze with a vaguely meditative air upon the expanse of landscape spread below them. He threw a hasty glance over the windows behind him, and then with assurance passed his arm round her waist. He could not say that there was anv resnondv*^ ^,\tx\A\n^ f^ u:„ i but he did affirm to himself with new conviction, as he BOOIB 374 THE MARKET-PLACE r looked down upon the fair small head at his shoulder, with its lovely pale-brown hair drawn softly over the temples, and its glimpse of the matchless profile inclined beneath — that it was all right. He waited for a long time, with a joyous patience, for her to speak. The mere fact that she stood beneath his engirdling arm, and gave no thought to the potential serv- ants' -eyes behind them, was enough for present happi- ness. He regarded the illimitable picture commanded from his terrace with refreshed eyes ; it was once again the finest view in England — and something much more than that beside. At last, abruptly, she laughed aloud — a silvery, amused little laugh under her breath. ' ' How comedy and tragedy tread forever on each other's heels ! " she remarked. Her tone was philosophically gay, but upon reflc^ *^ion he did not wholly like her words. "There was n't any tragedy," he said, "and there is n't any comedy." She laughed again. " Oh, don't say that this does n't appeal to your sense of humour ! " she urged, with mock fervour. Thorpe sighed in such unaffected depression at this, that she seemed touched by his mood. Without stirring from his hold, she lifted her face. " Don't think I 'm hateful," she bade him, and her eyes were very kind. " There 's more truth in what you 've been saying than even you imagine. It really was n't the money — or I mean it might easily have been the same if there had been no money. But how shall I explain it ? I am at- tracted by a big, bold, strong pirate, let us .say, but as soon as he has carried me off— that is the phrase for it — then he straightway renounces crime and becomes a law- abiding, peaceful citizen. My buccaneer transforms him- his shoulder, ftly over the rofile inclined \ patience, for d beneath his >otential serv- resent happi- ; commanded as once again J much more [very, amused y and tragedy ae remarked. reflcf '^ion he *' and there t this does n't ;d, with mock ssion at this, thout stirring 't think I 'm re very kind, ti saying than money — or I if there had it ? I am at- s say, but as phrase for it lecomes a law- msforms him> THE MARKET-PLACE 375 self, under my very eyes, into an alderman ! Do you say there is no comedy in that— and tragedy too ? " " Oh, put it that way and it 's all right," he declared, after a moment's consideration. " I 've got as much fun in me as anybody else," he went on, " only your jokes have a way of raising blisters on me, somehow. But that 's all done with now. That 's because I did n't know you— was frightened of you. But I aint scared any more. Everything is dififerent ! " With a certain graciousness of lingering movement, she withdrew herself from his clasp, and faced him with a doubtful smile. " Ah, don't be too sure, ' ' she murmured. " Everything is different ! " he repeated, with confident emphasis. " Don't you see yourself it is ? " " You say it is," she replied, hesitatingly, " but that alone does n't make it so. The assertion that life is n't empty does n't fill it." "Ah, but 7107a you will talk with me about all that," he broke in triumphantly. " We 've been standing off with one another. We ' ve been of no help to each other. But we '11 change that, now. We '11 talk over every- thing together. We '11 make up our minds exactly what we want to do, and then I '11 tuck you under my arm and we '11 set out and do it." She smiled with kindly tolerance for his new-born en- thusiasm. " Don't count on me for too much wisdom or invention," she warned him. " If things are to be done, you are still the one who will have to do them. But un- doubtediy you are at your best when you are doing things. This really has been no sort of life for you, here." He gathered her arm into his. " Come and show me your greenhouses," he said, and began walking toward the end of the terrace. " It '11 turn out to have been all right for me, this year that I 've spent here," he con- 376 THE MARKET-PLACE tinued, as they strolled along. There was a delightful consciousness of new intimacy conveyed by the very touch of her arm, which filled his tone with buoyancy. " I 've been learning all sorts of tricks here, and getting myself into your ways of life. It 's all been good training. In every way I 'm a better man than I was." They had descended from the terrace to a garden path, and approached now a long glass structure, through the panes of which masses of soft colour — whites, yellows, pinks, mauves, and strange dull reds — were dimly per- ceptible. " The chrysanthemums are not up to much this year," Edith observed, as they drew near to the door of this house. " Collins did them very badly — as he did most other things. But next year it will be very different. Gafiferson is the best chrysanthemum man in England. That is he in there now, I think." Thorpe stopped short, and stared at her, the while the suggestions stirred by the sound of this name slowly shaped themselves. " Gafferson ? " he asked her, with a blank countenance. ' ' My new head-gardener, ' ' she explained. ' ' He was at Hadlow, and after poor old Lady Plowden died — why, surely yoti remember him there. You spoke about hini— you 'd known him somewhere — in the West Indies, was n't it?" He looked into vacancy with the aspect of one stupe- fied. " Did I ? " he mumbled automatically. Then, with sudden decision, he vswung round on the gravel. " I 've got a kind of headache coming on," he said. " If you don't mind, we won't go inside among the flowers." a delightful lie very touch ncy. " I 've 2tting myself training. In garden path, through the ites, yellows, e dimly per- h this year, ' ' door of this he did most ivy different. in England. the while the name slowly countenance. I. "He was ti died — why, : about him— Vest Indies, )f one stupe- ound on the ning on," he le among the CHAPTER XXVI ynORPE walked along, in the remoter out-of-the-way 1 parts of the great gardens, as the first shadows of evening began to dull the daylight. For a long time he mind, in the stupid oppression of a bad dream There ran through all his confused thoughts the ex- asperating consciousness that it was nonsense to be frighl ened or even disturbed ; that, in truth, nothing whatever had happened. But he could not lay hold oFit to any hrreluctaT"^ T f'"'"^' ^" ^^^ P^^^' ^"^ directing his reluctant gaze to their unpleasant shapes. Forgotten terrors pushed themselves upon his recollection, ft wa as If he stood again in the Board Room, with the telegram telhng of old Tavender's death in hi; hands, wl„Tto hear the knock of Scotland Yard upon the door. The coming of Gafferson took on a kind of supernatural aspect, when Thorpe recalled its circumstances. His own cunous mental ferment, which had made this presen week a period apart in his life, had begun in the very ho^rof ns man's approach to the house. His memory recon T^ "-r' P"'"" °' ^^^^ approach-of the old ram- shackle village trap, and the boy and the bags and the yellow tin trunk, and that decent, red-bearded, pTebe an figure, so commonplace and yet so elusively suggestive of something out nf tii« ^^rM r. ^ : "8>""ve ♦1, ... 1 1 ," " — rs.-.iiiaij. It seemea to iimi now that he had at the time discerned a certain fateful quality 377 * a I! SI ., i m\ THE MARKET-PLACE in the apparition . And he and his wife had actually been talking of old Kervick at the moment ! It was their dis- agreement over him which had prevented her explaining about the new head-gardener. There was an effect of the uncanny in all this. And what did Gafferson want? How much did he know ? The idea that perhaps old Kervick had found him out, and patched up with him a scheme of blackmail, occurred to him, and in the unreal atmosphere of his mood, became a thing of substance. With blackmail, however, one could always deal ; it was almost a relief to see the complication assume that guise. But if Gafferson was intent upon revenge and exposure instead ? With such a slug-like, patient, tenacious fool, was that not more likely? Reasonable arguments presented themselves to his mind ever and again : his wife had known of Gafferson's work, and thought highly of it, and had been in a position to learn of his leaving Hadlow. What more natural than that she should hasten to employ him ? And what was it after all, that Gafferson could possibly know or prove ? His brother-in-law had gone off, and got too drunk to live, and had died. What in the name of all that was sensible had this to do with Thorpe ? Why should it even be sup- posed that Gafferson associated Thorpe with any phase of the business? And if he had any notion of a hostile movement, why should he have delayed action so long ? Why indeed ! Reassurance did not come to him, but at last an im- pulse to definite action turned his footsteps toward the cluster of greenhouses in the deepening shadow of the mansion. He would find Gafferson, and probe this busi- ness to the uttermost. If there was discoverable in t.ie man's manner or glance the least evidence of a malevolent THE MARKET-PLACE 379 id actually been [t was their dis- . her explaining ; an effect of the V much did he vick had found ne of blackmail, lereofhismood, kmail, however, relief to see the f Gafferson was ad ? With such s that not more imselves to his vn of Gafferson' s leeu in a position lore natural than And what was ' know or prove ? too drunk to live, that was sensible lid it even be sup- vith any phase of ition of a hostile d action so long ? ut at last an im- :steps toward the g shadow of the id probe this busi- ce of a malevoletit intention-he would know what to do. Ah, what was it that he would do ? He could not say. beyond that it would be bad for Gafferson. He instinctively clenched the fists in the pockets of his jacket as he quickened nis pace. Inside the congeries of glazed houses he was somewhat at sea. It was still light enough to make one's way about HI the passages between the stagings, but he had no idea of the general plan of the buildings, and it seemed to hiii that he frequently got back to places he had traversed before. There were two or three subordinate gardeners in or about the houses, but upon reflection he forbore to question them. He tried to assume an idly indifferent air as he sauntered past, nodding almost imperceptible ac- Surattr^''' °^ ^^^ forefingers they jerked upward in He came at last upon a locked door, the key of which had been removed. The fact vaguely surprised him. and he looked with awakened interest through the panes of tnis door. The air inside seemed slightly thickened- and then his eye caught the flicker of a flame, straight ahead. It w^s nothing but the fumigation of a house • the burning spirits in the lamp underneath the brazier were filling the structure with vapours fatal to all insect lite. In two or three hours the men would come and open tne doors and windows and ventilate the place The operation was quite familiar to him ; it had indeed inter- ested him more when he first saw it done than had any- thing else connected with tiie greenhouses. His abstracted gaze happened to take note of the fact that the door-key was hanging on a nail overhead, and then suddenly this seemed to be related to something else ™i,; u "TVV" ''"'"''' ouscure unpression or memory which evaded him. Continuing to look at the key, a cer- -.. ' . lanKi i li i« i i ,..i jiifia i U '^ 38o THE MARKET-PLACE Hi I m 4i m tain recollection all at once assumed great definiteness in his mind : it came to him that the labels on this patent fumigator they were using warned people against expos- ing themselves to its fumes more than v;as absolutely necessary. That meant, of course, that their full force would kill a human being. It was very interesting. He looked through the glass again, but could not see that the air was any thicker. The lamp still burned brightly. He turned away, and beheld a man, in an old cap and apron, at the further end of the palm-house he was in, doing something to a plant. Thorpe noted the fact that he felt no surprise in seeing that it was Gafferson. Some- how the sight of the key, and of the poison-spreading flame inside the locked door, seemed to have prepared him for the spectacle of Gafferson close at hand. He moved forward slowly toward the head-gardener, and luminous plans rose in his mind, ready-made at each step. He could strangle this annoying fool, or smother him, into non-resisting insensibility, and then put him inside that death-house, and let it be supposed that he had been asphyxiated by accident. The men when they came back would find him there. But ah ! they would know that they had not left him there ; they would have seen him outside, no doubt, after the fire had been lighted. Well, the key could be left in the unlocked door. Then it could be supposed that he had rashly entered, and been overcome by the vapours. He approached the man silently, his brain arranging the details of the deed with calm celerity. Then some objections to the plan rose up before him : they dealt almost exclusively with the social nuisance the thing would entail. There was to be a house-party, _.:i.'u i.^ *. Tk.-v^ n,^A "nnolipcc in it nf whom his wife talked so much, and it would be a miserable kind of bore to have ^'i! THE MARKET-PLACE t definiteness in s on this patent e against expos- v/as absolutely their full force nteresting. He lid not see that Durned brightly. 1 an old cap and ouse he was in, ed the fact that ifferson. Some- poison-spreading 3 have prepared ie at hand. He d-gardener, and ade at each step, mother him, into him inside that lat he had been vhen they came hey would know would have seen ad been lighted, id door. Then it ntered, and been oached the man of the deed with 3e up before him : e social nuisance be a house-party, ■ym his wife talked id of bore to have 381 a suffocated gardener forced upon them as a principal topic of conversation. Of course, too, it would more or less throw the whole household into confusion. And its effect upon his wife !-the progress of his thoughts was checked abruptly by this suggestion. A vision of the shock such a catastrophe might involve to her— or at the best, of the gross unpleasantness she would find in it- flashed over his mind, and then yielded to a softening radiant consciousness of how much this meant to him It seemed to efface everything else upon the instant. A profoundly tender desire for her happiness was in com- plete possession. Already the notion of doing anything to wound or grieve her appeared incredible to him. " Well, Gafferson," he heard himself saying, in one of the more reserved tones of his patriarchal manner He had halted close to the inattentive man, and stood looking down upon him. His glance was at once tolerant and watchful. Gafferson slowly rose from his slouching posture sur- veyed the other while his faculties in leisurely fashion worked out the problem of recognition, and then raised his finger to his cap-brim. "Good-evening, sir" he said. • .This gesture of deference was eloquently convincing. Thorpe, after an instant's alert scrutiny, smiled upon him. " I was glad to hear that you had come to us " he said with benevolent affability. " We shall expect great things of a man of your reputation." "It '11 be a fair comfort, sir," the other replied, " to be in a place where what one does is appreciated. What use IS It to succeed in hybridizing a Hippeastrum procera with a Pancratium Amancss, after over six hundred attemnt«s ip fe»'> ■''Pir" qtI f^i j •' --^„ .!. .c. ,^ar^, ana tiicu spend tnree years a-hand- nursing the seedlings, and then your master won't take l& m i '', I. L\ M»Akii^J;, -SUi^\ .'' 382 THE MARKET-PLACE enough interest, in the thing to pay your fare up to Lon- don to the exhibition with 'em ? That 's what 'ud break any man's heart." " Quite true," Thorpe assented, with patrician kindh- ness. " You need fear nothing of that sort here, Gaffer- son. We give you a free hand. Whatever you want, you have only to let us know. And you can't do things too well to please us." " Thank you, sir," said Gafferson, and really, as Thorpe thought about it, the interview seemed at an end. The master turned upon his heel, with a brief, oblique nod over his shoulder, and made his way cut into the open air. Here, as he walked, he dicw a succession of long consolatory breadths. It was almost as if he had emerged from the lethal presence of the fumigator itself. He took the largest cigar from his case, lighted it, and sighed smoke-laden new relief as he strolled back toward the terrace. But a few minutes before he had been st^ugglmg help- lessly in the coils o^ an evil nightmare. Thef.e terrors seemed infinitely far behind him now. He gf.ve an in- different parting glance backward at them, as one might over his after-breakfast cigar a* the confused alarms of an early awakening hours before. There was nothing worth remembering— only the shapeless and foolish bur- den of a bad dream. The assurance rose within him that he was not to have any more such trouble. With a singular clearness of mental vision he perceived that the part of him which brought bad dreams had been sloughed off, like a serpent's skin. There had been two Thorpes, and one of them— the Thorpe who had always been willing to profit by V .r" - I as a master thief had stolen nearly a million, and would have shrunk not at u I* THE MARKET-PLACE r fare up to Lon- 's what 'ud break patrician kindli- sort here, Gaffer- atever you want, 3U can't do things I really, as Thorpe at an end. th a brief, oblique ' cut into the open succession of long if he had emerged )r itself. He took ed it, and sighed back toward the n st*-nggling help- re. The5;e terrors . He gf.ve an in- hem, as one might lonfused alarms of Inhere was nothing ss and foolish bur- he was not to have gular clearness of part of him which off, like a serpent's and one of them — dlling to profit by p as a master thief have shrunk not at m all from addmg murder to the rest, to protect that pluUer -this vicious Thorpe had gone away altogether. There was no longer a place for him in Hfe ; he ;ould neve, b^ seen again by mortal eye. . . . There remained only the good Thorpe, the p1.as.nt, well-intentioned opulent gentleman ; the excellent citizen ; the beneficent nLter to whom even Gafferson like the others, iouched a rel spectful fon;lock. ^ ^cu a re trinnfnrl '" l^^ ?^°^^^^i«" ^^ ^^^ reverie as a kind of triumph of virtue that the good Thorpe retained the for- tune which the bad Thorpe had stolen. It was in a 1 senses a fortunate fact, because now it would be put to worthy uses Considering that he had but dimly drifted about heretofore on the outskirts of the altruistic impulse It was surprisingly plain to him now that he intended to be a philanthropist. Even as he mentioned the word to himself the possibilities suggested by it expanded in h s thoughts. Hisold dormant, formless lustforpower stirred again in his pulses What other phase of p'wer carried with It such rewards, such gratitudes, such humble sub- servience on all sides as far as the eye could reach-as ttopi'str ^ '""" intelligently munificent philan- Intelligence ! that was the note of it all. Many rich people dabbled at the giving of money, but they did it so stupidly, m such a shp-shod fashion, that they got no iTfe Lat ^"" -i"ionaires more or less L^^ublic fe, great newspaper-owners, great brewer-peers, and the Ike, men who should know how to do things well gave huge sums in bulk for public charities, such as the'hous 1^ .u F°°'' ^"'^ ^^^ contrived somehow to let the kudos that should have been theirs evaporate. He wouM make no such mistake as that. It was easy enough to see wherein they erred. They 384 THE MARKET-PLACE *■ ligg 1 ■ II 1 ^^B' t li ill 1 I gave superciliously, handing down their alms from a top- lofty altitude of Tory superiority, and the Radicals down below sniffed or growled even while they grudgingly took these gifts— that was all nonsense. These aristocratic or tuft-hunting philanthropists were the veriest duffers. They laid out millions of pounds in the vain attempt to secure what might easily be had for mere thousands, if they went sensibly to work. Their vast benefactions yielded them at the most bare thanks, or more often no thanks at all, because they lacked the wit to lay aside cer- tain little trivial but annoying pretensions, and waive a few empty prejudices. They went on, year after year, tossing their fortunes into a sink of contemptuous ingrati- tude, wondering' feebly why they were not beloved in re- turn! It was because they were fools. They could not, or they would not, understand the people they sought to manipulate. What could not a man of real brain, of real breadth and energy and force of character, do in London with two hundred thousand pounds ? Why, he could make him- self master of the town ! He could break into fragments the poHtical ascendency of the snob, "semi-detached" villa classes, in half the Parliamentary divisions they now controlled. He could reverse the partisan complexion of the Metropolitan delegation, and lead to Westminster a party of his own, a solid phalanx of disciplined men, standing for the implacable Democracy of reawakened London. W'*^'i such a backing, he could coerce ministries at will, and remake the politics of England. The rS/e of Great Oliver himself was not too hopelessly beyond the scope of such a vision. Thorpe threw his cigar-end aside, and then noted that it wa= almost dark. He strode up to the terrace two steps at a time, and swung along its length with a vigour and THE MARKET-PLACE r alms from a top- he Radicals down f grudgingly took lese aristocratic or : veriest duffers, le vain attempt to lere thousands, if vast benefactions , or more often no it to lay aside cer- sions, and waive a 1, year after year, temptuous ingrati- not beloved in re- They could not, iple they sought to n, of real breadth ti London with two ! could make him- eak into fragments " semi-detached" divisions they now isan complexion of I to Westminster a >f disciplined men, cy of reawakened Id coerce ministries jland. The rdle of lelessly beyond the and then noted that he terrace two steps 1 with a vigour and 385 exhilaration of movement he had not known, it seemed to him, for years. He felt the excitement of a new in- centive bubbling in his veins. " Her Ladyship is in her sitting-room, sir," a domestic replied to his enquiry in the hall. The title arrested his attention from some fresh point of view, and he pondered it, as he made his way along the corridor, and knocked at a door. At the sound of a voice he pushed open the door and went in. ' Lady Cressage, looking up, noted, with aroused interest, a marked change in his carriage. He stood aggressively erect, his big shoulders squared, and his head held high. On his massive face there was the smile, at once buoyant and contained, of a strong man satisfied with himself. Something impelled her to rise, and to put a certain wistfulness of enquiry into her answering smile. " Your headache is better then ? " she asked him. ^^ He looked puzzled for a moment, then laughed lightly. "Oh— yes," he answered. Advancing, he caught her suddenly, almost vehemently, in his arms, and covered the face that was perforce upturned with kisses. When she was released from this overwhelming em- brace, and stood panting and flushed, regarding him with narrowed, intent eyes, in which mystification was mel- lowed by the gleam of not-displeased curiosity, he pre- ferred a request which completed her bewilderment. " Mrs. Thorpe," he began, with significant delibera- tion, but smiling with his eyes to show the tenderness underlying his words-" would you mind if we did n't dress for dinner this evening, and if we dined in the little breakfast-room— or here, for that matter— instead of the big place ? " " Whv. notflf nil if ^'O" tttJoT, :*. >» „t,o -•> jm i, u ^ v.i Ttijii it, Bne iiuawcrea reaoiiy enough, but viewing him still with a puzzled glance. -V^^MiMiS hi 386 THE MARKET-PLACE " I 'm full of new ideas," he explained, impulsively im- patient of the necessity to arrange a sequence among his thoughts " I see great things ahead. It 's all come to me in a minute, but I could n't see it clearer if I 'd thought it out for a year. Perhaps I was thnikuig of it all the time and did n't know it. But anyhow, I see my way straight ahead. You don't know what it means to me to have something to do. It makes another man of me, just to think about it. Another man ?-yes, twenty men ! It 's a thing that can be done, and by God ! I'm going to do it ! " She beheld in his face, as she scrutinized it, a stormy glow of the man'H native, coarse, imperious virility, re- asserting itself through the mask of torpor which this vacuous year had superimposed. The large features were somehow grown larger still ; they dominated the counte- nance as rough bold headlands dominate a shore. It was the visage of a conqueror-of a man gathering within himself, to expend upon his fellows, the appetites, ener- gies insensibilities, audacities of a beast of prey. Her glance fluttered a little, and almost quailed, before the frank barbarism of power in the look he bent upon her. Then it came to her that something more was to be read in this look ; there was in it a reservation of magnanimity, of protection, of entreating invitation, for her special self. He might tear down with his claws, and pull to pieces and devour others ; but his mate he would shelter and defend and love with all his strength. An involuntary trembling thrill ran through her-and then she smiled up at him. , 1 t t.« " What is it you 're going to do ? " she asked him, mechanically. Her mind roved far afield. *' Rule Engiatul ! " he told her with gravity. For the moment there seemed to her nothing positively impulsively im- ence among his It 's all come to clearer if I 'd as thinking of it :iyhow, I see my A'hat it means to another man of n ? — yes, twenty id by God ! I'm lized it, a stormy -ions virility, re- )rpor which this rge features were iiated the counte- a shore. It was fathering within e appetites, encr- Lst of prey. Her lailed, before the le bent upon her. )re was to be read I of magnanimity, jr her special self, lid pull to pieces vould shelter and An involuntary hen she smiled up THE MARKET-PLACE she asked him, Id. nothing positively 387 incongruous in the statement. To look at him as he oon.d before her. uplifted by his refreshed and ^oarh^ She laughed after a fleeting pause, witli a plainer note b fore" dT iT/f f" !" '''^' '''' ^^-^ ^» ^-^ vol sure that I quite understand the-the precise connection of^orning-dress and dinner in a small room with Uie He nodded pleased comprehension of the spirit in which she took him. "Just a whim," he explained. "The things I ye got in mind don't fit at all with ceremony and hat b,g barn of a room, and men standing Tout' What I want more than anything else is a quTet snug httle evening wuh you alone, where I can talk t^o you and -and we can be together by ourselves. You 'd like it would n't you?" ' She hesitated, and tliere was a novel confession of em- ars""lt h T """ """;'"^ ^^^^"^ ^^"^ clown-spread ashes. It had always to his eyes been, from the moment he first beheld U, the most beautiful face in the wo d- exquisitely matchless in its form and delicacy of line and serene yet sensitive grace. But he had not seen in it be- fore, or guessed that there could come to it, this crowning added loveliness of feminine confusion ^ •' You would like it, would n't you ? " he repeated in a lower, more strenuous tone. over 111. .houlder, as in a reverie, half meditation, half l:;:^^;; ii'"""''^ "'^^ ^^"^'^^ ^^'^- ^^>-^ ^^^^pped mam CHAPTER XXVII 1 '^k I THORPE found the Duke of Glastonbury a much more interesting person to watch and to talk with, both during the dinner Saturday evening and later, than he had anticipated. He was young, and slight of frame, and not at all im- posing in stature, but he bore himself with a certain shy courtliness of carriage which had a distinction of its own. His face, with its little black moustache and large dark eyes, was fine upon examination, but in some elusively foreign way. There lingered a foreign note, too, in the way he talked. His speech was English enough to the ear, it was true, but it was the considered English of a book, and its phrases had a deftness which was hardly native. He looked, if not a sad young n .n, then one conscious always of sufl5cient reasons for vSadness, but one came, after a time, to see that the mood beneath was not melancholy. It had even its sprightly side, which shone out irregularly in his glance and talk, from a sober mean of amiable weariness. Thorpe knew his extraordinary story— that of a poor tutor, earjiing his living in ignorance of the fact that he had a birthright of any sort, who hud been miraculously translated into the heir, not only to an ancient title but to vast collateral wealth. He had been born and reared in France, and it was there that the heralds of this stupend- ous change in his affairs had found him out. There was THE MARKET-PLACE 3S9 a good deal more to the story, including numerous un- savoury legends about people now many years dead, and It was impossible to observe the young Duke and not seem to perceive signs that he was still nervously con- scious of these legends. The story of his wife-a serene grey-eyed, rather silent young person, with a pale face of some beauty, and with much purity and intellect-was strange enough to match. She also had earned her own living, as a private secretarj- or type-writing girl or something of the sort, and her husband had deliberately chosen her after he had come into his title. One might study her very closely, however, and catch no hint that these facts in any degree disconcerted her. Thorpe studied her a good deal, in a furtive way with a curiosity born of his knowledge that the Duke had pre- ferred her, when he might have married his widowed cousin, who was now Thorpe's own wife. How he had come to know this, he could never have told. He had breathed it in, somehow, with the gossip-laden atmosphere of that one London season of his. It was patent enough too, that his wife-his Edith-had not only liked this ducal youngster very much, but still entertained toward him a considerable affection. She had never dissembled this feeling, and it visibly informed her glance and man- ner now, at her own table, when she turned to speak with him, where he sat at her right hand. Thorpe had never dreamed of thinking ill of his wife's friendship, even when her indifference to what he thought had been most taken for granted. Now that this was all changed, and the amazing new glory of a lover had enveloped him, he had a distinct delight in watching the myriad charming phases of her kind manner, half-sisterly, half-motherly, toward the grave-faced young man. It was all a part of the de- hcious cnange which these past few days had wrouglit in 390 THE MARKET-PLACE her, this warm and supple softness of mien, of eye and smile and voice. But how the Duke, if really he had had a chance to marry Edith, could have taken the type-writer instead, baffled speculation. Thorpe gave more attention to this problem, during dinner, than he did to the conversation of the table. His exchange of sporadic remarks with the young Duchess beside him was indeed an openly per- functory affair, which left him abundant leisure to con- template her profile in silence, while she turned to listen to the general talk, of which Miss Madden and the Hon. Winifred Plowden bore the chief burden. The talk of these ladies interested him but indifferently, though the frequent laughter suggested that it was amusing. He looked from his wife to the Duchess and back again, in ever-recurring surprise that the coronet had been carried past Edith. And once he looked a long time at his wife and the Duke, and formulated the theory that she must have refused him. No doubt that was why she bad been sympathetically fond of him ever since, and was being so nice to him now. Yes— clearly that was it. He felt upon this that he also liked the Duke very much. It was by no means so apparent that the Duke liked him. Both he and his Duchess, indeed, were scrupulously and even deferentially polite, but there was a painstaking effect about it, which, seemingly, they lacked the art alto- gether to conceal. It seemed to Thorpe that the other guests unconsciously took their cue from this august couple, and all exposed somewhat the cflbrt their civility to him involved. At another time the suspicion of this would have stung him. He had only to glance across the table to where his wife sat now, and it was all right. What other people thought of him— how other people liked or uiblikcd him— was of no earthly importance. ien. of eye and ad a chance to -writer instead, ittention to this he conversation imarks with the an openly per- leisure to con- turned to h'sten adden and the •den. The talk :rently, though ; amusing. He back again, in ad been carried time at his wife that she must y she had been id was being so . He felt upon 1. the Duke liked re scrupulously 3 a painstaking ed the art alto- that the other in this august rt their civility spicion of this ance across the was all right. r other people y importance. THE MARKET-PLACE 391 Whenever he chose to exert himself, he could compel from them the behaviour that he desired. It was their dull inability to read character which prompted them to regard him as merely a rich outsider who had married Edith Cressage. He viewed with a comfortable tolerance this infirmity of theirs. When the time came, if he wanted to do so, he could awaken them to their delusion as by forked lightning and the burst of thunder. The whim came to him, and expanded swiftly into a determination, to contrive some intimate talk forthwith with the Duke. The young man seemed both clever and sensible, and in a way impressionable as well. Thorpe thought that he would probably have some interesting things to say, but still more he thought of him as a likely listener. It would be the easier to detach him from the company, since the occasion was one of studied informality. The Duke did not go about in society, in the ordinary sense of the word, and he would not have come to High Thorpe to meet a large party. He was here as a kin.sman and friend of his hostess for a quiet week ; and the few other guests fitted readily enough into the picture of a family gathering. The spirit of domesticity had indeed so obviously descended upon the little group in the drawing-room, an hour or so after dinner, that Thorpe felt it quite the natural thing to put his arm through that of the Duke and lead him oflT to his personal .smoking- room. He even published his intention by audibly bid- ding the Hon. Balder Plowden to remain with the ladies. When the two had seated themselves in soft, low easy- chairs, and the host had noted with pleasure that his guest had no effeminate qualms in the matter of large rich cigars, a brief silence ensued. " T am very anxious to get vour views o.w « certain subject," Thorpe was inspired to becrjn, bluntly pushi^ng awiifMa 39^ THE MARKET-PLACE preliminaries aside. " If a man of fortune v/ishes to do genuine good with his money, here in England, how should he best gc about it ? " The Duke looked up at his questioner, with a sudden flash of surprise on his dark, mobile face. He hesitated a moment, and smiled a little. " You ask of me the sum of human wisdom," he said. " It is the hardest of all problems ; no one solves it." Thorpe nodded his big head comprehendingly. ' ' That 's all the more reason why it ought to be solved," he de- clared, with slow emphasis. The other expressed by look and tone an augmented consciousness of the unexpected. " I did not know," he remarked cautiously, " that this was a matter in which you were specially concerned. It pleases me very much to hear it. Even if thi solution does not come, it is well to have as many as possible turning the problem over in their minds." "Oh, but I 'm going to solve it ! " Thorpe told him, with round confidence. ^ The Duke puUed contemplatively at his cigar for a little. " Do not think me a cynic," he began at last. " You are a man of affairs ; you have made your own way ; you should be even more free from illusions than I am. If you tell me that these good things can be done, I am the last one to dispute you. But I have seen near at Land experiments of exceptional importance, on a very grand scale, and the result does not encourage me. I come to doubt indeed if money has any such power in these affairs as we think it has— for that matter, if it has any power at all. The shifting of money can always dis- organize what is going on at the moment— change it about and alter it in many ways—but its effect is only temporary. As boou as the pressure is released, the human atoms re- tie v.'ishes to do England, how with a sudden He hesitated of me the sum hardest of all igly. "That's olved," he de- an augmented not know," he atter in which me very much :ome, it is well "oblem over in orpe told him, is cigar for a began at last, ade your own lusions than I s can be done, ave seen near lice, on a very urage me. I uch power in atter, if it has m always dis- lange it about ly temporary, lan atoms re- THE MARKET-PLACE arrange themselves as they were before, and the old con- ditions return. I think the only force which reallv makes any permanent difference is character-and yet about even that I am not sure. The best man I have ever known— and in many respects the ablest— devoted untold energy and labour, and much money, too, to the service of a few thousand people in Somerset, on land of his own, upon a theory wonderfully elaborated and worked out. Perhaps you have heard of Emanuel Torr and his colony, his System?" ^' Thorpe shook his head. "He had worked tremendously for years at it. He fell ill and went away-and in a day all the results of his labours and outlay were flat on the ground. The property is mine now, and it is farmed and managed again in the ordinary way, and really the people there seem already to have forgotten that they had a prophet among them. The marvelous character of the man-you look in vain for any sign of an impress that it left upon them. 7 never go there. I cannot bear those people. I have sometimes the feeling that if it were feasible I should like to oppress them in some way— to hurt them." " Oh ! ' the people' are hogs, right enough," Thorpe commented genially, "but they are 'the people,' and they 're the only tools we 've got to work with to make the world go round." ^ "But if you leave the world alone, ' ' objected the Duke ' It goes round of itself. And if you don't leave it alone,' It goes round just the same, without any reference what- ever to your exertions. Some few men are always cleverer or noisier or more restless than the others, and their activity produces certain deviations and peculiarities in their ereneratioti. Thf» reooTl of i^-'•^ < " — .c>w,u oi ifivoe — gciiviuij}' u very faulty and foolish record— we call history. We say of sniTriiiii i rii 'iT~~>i"i"'i;, iiiiwin 394 THE MARKET-PLACE these movements in the past that some of them were good and some were bad. Our sons very likely will differ totally from us about which were good and which were bad ; quite possibly, in turn, their sons may agree with us. I do not see that it matters. We cannot treat any- thing as final- except that the world goes round. We appear out of the darkness at one edge of it ; we are carried across and pitched off into the darkness at the other edge of it. We are certain about nothing else." " Except that some of us have to pay for our ride and others don't," put in Thorpe. The tone in which he spoke made his meaning so clear that his Grace sat up. "Ah, you think we do not pay?" he queried, his countenance brightening with the animation of debate. " My dear sir, we pay more than anyone else. Our fares are graduated, just as our death-duties are. No doubt there are some idle and stupid, thick-skinned rich fellows who escape the ticket-collector. But for each of them there are a thousand idle poor fellows who do the same. You, for example, are a man of large wealth. I for my sins, carry upon my back the burden of a prodigious for- tune. Could we not go out now, and walk down^'the road to your nearest village, and find in tlie pub. there a dozen day-labourers happier than we are ? Why-it is Saturday night. Then I will not say a dozen, but as many as the tap will hold. It is not the beer alone that makes them happy. Do not think that. It is the ability to rest un- troubled, the sense that till Monday they have no more responsibility than a tree-toad. Does the coming of Sun- day make that difference to you or to me ? When niaht comes, does it mean to us that we are to sleep off into oblivion all we have done that day, and begin life afresh next mc N lT.-. 00 we are lae tired people ; the THE MARKET-PLACE 395 All, do we not load is never lifted from our backs, pay indef'' ' ' ' ^ "Oh-ho!" ejaculated Thorpe. He had been listen- ing with growing astonishment to the other's confession He was still surprised as he spoke, but a note of satis- taction mounted into his voice as he went on. " Vou are unhappy, too ! You are a young man, in excellent health ; you have the wife you want ; you understand good tobacco ; you have a son. That is a great deal-but my God ! think what else you 've got. You 're the Duke of Glastonbury-one of the oldest titles in England You 're one of the richest men in the country— the richest in the old peerage, at any rate, I 'm told. And you 're not happy ! " The other smiled. ' ' Ah, the terms and forms survive ' ' he said, with a kind of pedagogic affability, " after the substance has disappeared. The nobleman, the prince was a great person in the times when he monopolized wealth. It enabled him to monopolize almost everything else that was pleasant or superb. He had the arts and the books and the mnsicians and the silks and velvets and the bath-tubs-everything that made existence gor- geous-all to himself. He had war to amuse himself with, and the seven deadly sins. The barriers are down now. Everything which used to be exclusively the noble- man's IS now vithin everybody's reach, including the sins. And .i is not only that others have levelled up to him ; they have levelled him down. He cannot dress now more expensively than other people. Gambling used to be recognized as one of his normal relaxations, but now the higher his rank, the more sharply he is scolded for it' Naturally he does not know what to do with himselt As an institution, he descends from a period ^-hen thp nnUr imaginable use for wealth was to be magnificent with it' 396 THE MARKET-PLACE But now .n this business age, where the recognized use of wealth IS to make more wealth, he is so much out of place that he has even forgotten how to be magnificent There are some illustrated articles in one of the maga- zines, givmg photographs of the great historic country- houses of England. You should see the pictures of the T'T^ -^'^ 'r'''''' ^"' decorations are precisely r^n.^!. dr^^^'^aker would buy, if she suddenly came into some money. ' ' not h'tppy'!'' ''""''" ^"""'^^ ''"'^ '° ""'' P°^"^' " >'- -^- The Duke frowned faintly, as if at the other's per- sistency Then he shrugged his shoulders and answered in a lighter tone. " It hardly amounts to that, I think I confess that there are alleviations to my lot. In the opinion of the world I am one of its most fortunate citizens -and It is not for me to say that the world is altogether wrong The chief point is-I don't know if you will quite follow me-there are limits to what position and for- tune can give a man. And so easily they may deprive him of pleasures which poorer men enjoy i I may be wrong, but it seems impossible to me that any rich man who has acres of gardens and vineries and glass can get up the same affection for it all that the cottager will have for his little flower-plot, that he tends with his own hands One seems outside the realities of life-a mere spectator at the show." " Ah. but why not do things? " Thorpe demanded of mm Why merely stand, as you say, and look on ? " The other leant his head back again. " Pray what do you recommend ? " he asked almost listlessly. " Why— politics, for example." The Duke nodded, with an air of according to the sue- „ ^Tu..^ xv^^cv.,. Unnappiiy i am too much of THE MARKET-PLACE 397 )int, " you are a foreigner, he commented. " I know Englishmen and their aflFairs too imperfectly. Sometime— perhaps. ' ' " And philanthropic work— you don't care about that " pursued the other. ' " Oh— we go not so far as that," said his Grace, with a deprecatory wave of the hands. ' ' My wife finds many interests in it, only she would not like to have you call it philanthropical. She is London-born, and it is a great pleasure to her to be of assistance to poorer young women in London, who have so little done for them by the com- munity, and can do so little for themselves. I am much less skeptical about that particular work, I may tell you than about philanthropy in general. In fact, I am quite clear that it is doing good. At least i^ is doing a kind- ness, and that is a pleasant occupation. We are really not so idle as one might think. We work at it a good deal, my wife and I." "So am I London-born," Thorpe remarked, with a certain irrelevancy. After a moment's pause he turned a sharply enquiring glance upon his guest. " This thing that you 're doing in London-does it give you any ' pull ' there ? " -^ '' Pull ? " repeated the other helplessly. "If there was something you wanted the people of London to do, would they do it for you because of what you 've been doing for them— or for their girls ? " The Duke looked puzzled for a moment. " But it is n't conceivable that I should want London to do any- thing-uuless it might be to consume its own smoke " he observed. ' " Quite so ! " said Thorpe, rising bulkily to his feet, but signifying by a gesture that his companion was to remain seated. HepuSed at his cigar till its tip gleamed angrilv through the smoke about hiiu, and moved a few steps with 398 THE MARKET-PLACE h s hands mh.s pockets. •■ That is what I wanted to get hLd T. ",L°"-'^°'^-l">™. I 've got the town in my blood The Thorpes have been booksellers there for generafons. The old name is over the old shop still. I thmk I know what Londoners are like ; I onght to. It 's my behef that they don't want gifts. They '11 take 'em but .t .s n't what they want. They 're a tU g peopk -one of the oldest in the world. Commercial traditions the merchant's pride-these are bred in their bones. They don t want something for nothing. They like an honest bargam-fa,r on both sides. ' Yon help me and I '11 help " Well," said the Duke, passively. Thorpe halted, and still with the cigar between hi<5 teeth, looked down at him. oecween his " I can go into London, and study out the things that are to be done-that need to be done-and dividf these those that ought to be done publicly. And I can say to Londoners-not in so many words, mind you, but in a way he sharper ones will understand : ' Here, you fellows I 11 begin doing out of my own pocket one set of these things, and you in turn mast put yourselves at my back and stand by me, and put me in a position where I can make the Government do this other set of things ' That will appeal to them. A poor man could n't kad them any distance, because he could always be killed by the cry that he was filling his pockets. They will believe m a man whose ambition is to win an earldom and five thousand a year out of politics, but they will stone to death the man who merely tries to get a few hundreds a year o.t of it for his wife and children. And a man like , t ,_ ...^^.tniuij "i i^onaou, because they can't see ■ wanted to get le town in my ■lers there for i shop still. I •ught to. It 's y '11 take 'em, trading people :ial traditions, bones. They like an honest and I '11 help lything worth between his le things that I divide these nterprise and I I can say to but in a way you fellows. ; set of these at my back, where I can of things.' uld n't lead be killed by will believe 3m and five /ill stone to hundreds a I a man like ey can't see THE MARKET-PLACE 399 that there 's anything you want in return-and besides in thejr hearts, they don't like your class. Don't f^'gei Ah but this IS also the city. ' ' retorted the other, with placd pleasure in his argument. " which decked ^'tself n banners and ribbons to welcome back the son of that san e king. _ And if you think of it. he was rather a qu nt thing in sons, too." H^^nii readLT %Z°''"l fl"^.*"''" ^"^"^^ ^ffi™<^d with readiness. They get their own way once in a while when the men are tired out, and they have their hf; spell of nonsense and monkey-shines, but it never las s long Charles 11. does n't matter a ail-but take „' word for it, his father matters a great deal. There wasi Thorpe among the judges who voted to behead him. I am descended in a straight line from him •■ His Grace shrugged his slight shoulders agnin " It happens that my ancestors had extremely large facilities for doing unpleasant things, and, God k':,ows, they dm them-but I don't quite see what that goes to prove now. f^'^^cj .0. you don't grasp the idea. ' ' said Thorpe, resignedly. After a moment's pause he took the cigar from Ws lips round "^t'"' '^""^' " ""'' ^^^ -"-'" ^^ d-lar'ed roundly, I am going to do the trick. London has been waiting for an organize— a leader-for a hundred years. The right kind of a man, going the right way to work, can stand London on its head, as surefy as I can burn this cigar. And I 'm going to have a try at it " It IS very interesting." remarked the Duke with vagueness. '< But-are th. ladies waiting for us ?' And It so, are n t we keeping them up unconscionably ? " As if in comment upon his word^ t'^— -h-, - a ^c „ c • . , — ..-n,.., inv.n_ V-, us liie sound of a famt rap at the door. Then it opened, and through THE MARKET-PLACE wrif^^'i-"'" ^^ '^' '"°°"^ '^^y '^"^ '^^^ shadowed forms softly indistinct save where the hght from the c^H nig outside shone down upon a group of coiffu" dtad A no se of mingled coughing and laughter specificallv completed the introduction. S'Pecincally " Oh, I 'm— it 's unendurable in there " sDoke tliP vo,ce of the hostess. •■ We ...coming into sm^ke wUh you she called out through the cloud, "since you would n't stop with us." ' " Come along ! " answered Thorpe cheerilv H» strode to the end of the room andtised a tindow From the same corner he turned on some added lights Under th,s more effective illumination, the lady of the house advanced, with Miss Madden and the Ho.^ Wint fred close behind her. " Frank has gone to bed " Ihe t^h r'i" '■;' ?"''^' "'■'' '■^•' "^-'- The,°she tumid to her husband a bright-eyed glance -•You don't mhtd -our connng ? ■ ■ she asked. ■• S"''"' " ''%T""' °"'' «•'■"' ^ob"^' impressiveness. Mind ! As If to complete the expression of his mean mg, he threw his arm loosely about her, where se "tZ and brought her to his side. They r^nained ^ ful 1: T '°'P.V'f ''"" ""'""'"E '° "" "«= "'o^t wonder- ful plans .,a,d the Duke, looking from one face to an- other, w,t„ a reserved sn.i.e. ■• It seen.s that phi „hrop„ fails unless ,t is combined with very advanced politcsn js a new idea to me-but he certainly states it with vigour Do you understand it, Edith ? " vigour. "Oh perfectly." replied the wife, smilingly. " I am his first convert. Behold in me the original dfsciple," The worst of that is," commented Thorpe, with d":! , AT':^:^':' :!'"= "O"!^. -."-i"^ •" -y "'•- new ' '■' '""'= J"" '^ '■^'"'"y. ■ ■ lie tigliteucd the arm 3me shadowed from the ceil- 'iflfured heads, ir specifically ," spoke the smoke with ' ' since you leerily. He 1 a window, led lights. e lady of the Hon. Wini- :o bed," she n she turned don't mind ^ressiveness. of his mean- •e she stood, 2d standing e all seated, lost wonder- face to an- hilanthropy politics. It .'ith vigour. THE MARKET-PLACE 401 encircling her by a perceptible trifle. " Would n't you sweetheart ? " he demanded. She seemed in nowise embarrassed by these overt en- aearments. There was indeed the dimmest suggestion in ler face and voice of a responsive mood. " Really " slie bega... witl, a soft glance, half-deprecation, half-pride bent upoti the others, and with thoughtful deliberation' - really the nnportant thing is that he should pursue some object-have in view something that he is deter- mined to master. Without that, he is not contented-not at Ins best. He should have been a soldier. He has a passion tor battle in his blood. And now that he sees sometl„„,. he is eager to do-I a.n very glad. It makes It none tne less acceptable that good is to come from it " I stnl manitain." said Miss Madden, interpolating her words through the task of lighting a cigarette, and cnn- tnvnig for them an eflFect of drollery which appealed to Thorpe n.ost of all-«' I shall always insist, jnst'tL same tliat cnme was his true vocation." y- ti I am isciple. " orpe. with ' other new cU the arm