for your own sake. In a single
week you would have been a wealthy man; do you really mean to throw away
everything for a whim?"

"Perhaps Vernon remembers that he holds over 1700 of the Syndicate
shares which we have worked up to L18, and thinks it wiser to capture
the profit in sight, generally speaking a very sound principle,"
interrupted Aylward sarcastically.

"You are mistaken, Sir Robert," replied Alan, flushing. "The way that
those shares have been artificially put up is one of the things to which
I most object. I shall only ask for mine the face value which I paid for
them."

Now notwithstanding their experience, both of the senior partners
did for a moment look rather scared. Such folly, or such honesty, was
absolutely incredible to them. They felt that there must be much behind.
Sir Robert, however, recovered instantly.

"Very well," he said; "it is not for us to dictate to you; you must make
your own bed and lie on it. To argue or remonstrate would only be rude."
He put out his hand and pushed the button of an electric bell, adding as
he did so, "Of course we understand one thing, Vernon, namely, that as
a gentleman and a man of honour you will make no public use of the
information which you have acquired during your stay in this office,
either to our detriment, personal or financial, or to your own
advantage."

"Certainly you may understand that," replied Vernon. "Unless my
character is attacked and it becomes necessary for me to defend myself,
my lips are sealed."

"That will never happen--why should it?" said Sir Robert with a polite
bow.

The door opened and the head clerk, Jeffreys, appeared.

"Mr. Jeffreys," said Sir Robert, "please find us the deed of partnership
between Major Vernon and ourselves, and bring it here. One moment.
Please make out also a transfer of Major Vernon's parcel of Sahara
Syndicate shares to Mr. Champers-Haswell and myself at par value, and
fill in a cheque for the amount. Please remove also Major Vernon's name
wherever it appears in the proof prospectus, and--yes--one thing more.
Telephone to Specton--the Right Honourable the Earl of Specton, I mean,
and say that after all I have been able to arrange that he shall have a
seat on the Board and a block of shares at a very moderate figure,
and that if he will wire his assent, his name shall be put into the
prospectus. You approve, don't you, Haswell?--yes--then that is all, I
think, Jeffreys, only please be as quick as y