uplay.
He felt that he must assert himself.

"Never mind, we can get it; or we can wait till we do. We shut you out
just as badly whether we leave the old buildings or put up new. However,
we shall get it. I'm satisfied as to that."

"You've heard my offer?"

"Yes," smiled Harry. "The reward for getting ahead of Mr Iver is, it
seems, two thousand pounds. It must be done pretty often if it's as
cheap as that! I hope he's well?"

"Quite well, Mr Tristram, thank you. But when you talk of getting ahead
of him----"

"Well, I put it plainly; that's all. I'm new to this, and I dare say
Sloyd here would put it better. But my money's in it, so I like to have
my say."

Both the dislike and the reluctant respect of old days were present in
the Major's mind. He felt that the quality on whose absence Iver had
based his calculations had been supplied. Harry might be ignorant. Sloyd
could supply the knowledge. Harry had that grit which hitherto the firm
had lacked. Harry seemed to guess something of what was passing through
his adversary's mind.

"I don't want to be anything but friendly. Neither Sloyd nor I want
that--especially toward Mr Iver--or toward you, Major. We've been
neighbors." He smiled and went on, smiling still: "Oddly enough, I've
said what I'm going to say to you once before--on a different occasion.
You seem to have been trying to frighten us. I am not to be frightened,
that's all."

Sloyd whispered in his ear; Duplay guessed that he counselled more
urbanity; Harry turned from him with a rather contemptuous little laugh.
"Oh, I've got my living to earn now," Duplay heard him whisper--and
reflected that he had never wasted much time on politeness, even before
that necessity came upon him.

It was strange that Sloyd did not try to take any part in the
discussion. He wore an air of deference, partly due no doubt to Harry's
ability, yet having unmistakably a social flavor about it. Harry's
lordlinesses clung to him still, and had their effect on his business
partner. Duplay lodged an angry inward protest to the effect that they
had none whatever on him.

"Perhaps I'd better just say what we want," Harry pursued. "We've paid
Masters twenty thousand. We may be five hundred more out of pocket.
Never mind that." He pushed away the plans and elevations. "You're
empowered to treat, I suppose?" he asked. Sloyd had whispered to him
again.

"No," said Duplay. "But as a final offer, I think I can pledge Mr Iver
to