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The lonely minute before the entrance of his creditors passed in the thought： 'So that's how it struck him！ Short shrift I should get if it came out。'
The gentlemen； who numbered ten this time； bowed to their debtor； evidently wondering why the deuce they troubled to be polite to an old man who kept them out of their money。 Then； the secretary reappearing with a cup of China tea； they watched while their debtor drank it。 The feat was tremulous。 Would he get through without spilling it all down his front； or choking？ To those unaccustomed to his private life it was slightly miraculous。 He put the cup down empty； tremblingly removed some yellow drops from the little white tuft below his lip； refit his cigar； and said：
〃No use beating about the bush； gentlemen； I can offer you fourteen hundred a year so long as I live and hold my directorships； and not a penny more。 If you can't accept that； you must make me bankrupt and get about sixpence in the pound。 My qualifying shares will fetch a couple of thousand at market price。 I own nothing else。 The house I live in； and everything in it； barring my clothes； my wine； and my cigars； belong to my daughter under a settlement fifteen years old。 My solicitors and bankers will give you every information。 That's the position in a nutshell。〃
In spite of business habits the surprise of the ten gentlemen was only partially concealed。 A man who owed them so much would naturally say he owned nothing； but would he refer them to his solicitors and bankers unless he were telling the truth？ Then Mr。 Ventnor said：
〃Will you submit your pass books？〃
〃No； but I'll authorise my bankers to give you a full statement of my receipts for the last five yearslonger； if you like。〃
The strategic stroke of placing the ten gentlemen round the Board table had made it impossible for them to consult freely without being overheard； but the low…voiced transference of thought travelling round was summed up at last by Mr。 Brownbee。
〃We think； Mr。 Heythorp； that your fees and dividends should enable you to set aside for us a larger sum。 Sixteen hundred； in fact； is what we think you should give us yearly。 Representing； as we do； sixteen thousand pounds； the prospect is not cheering； but we hope you have some good years before you yet。 We understand your income to be two thousand pounds。〃
Old Heythorp shook his head。 〃Nineteen hundred and thirty pounds in a good year。 Must eat and drink； must have a man to look after me not as active as I was。 Can't do on less than five hundred pounds。 Fourteen hundred's all I can give you； gentlemen； it's an advance of two hundred pounds。 That's my last word。〃
The silence was broken by Mr。 Ventnor。
〃And it's my last word that I'm not satisfied。 If these other gentlemen accept your proposition I shall be forced to consider what I can do on my own account。〃
The old man stared at him； and answered：
〃Oh！ you will； sir； we shall see。〃
The others had risen and were gathered in a knot at the end of the table； old Heythorp and Mr。 Ventnor alone remained seated。 The old man's lower lip projected till the white hairs below stood out like bristles。 'You ugly dog；' he was thinking； 'you think you've got something up your sleeve。 Well； do your worst！' The 〃ugly dog〃 rose abruptly and joined the others。 And old Heythorp closed his eyes； sitting perfectly still； with his cigar； which had gone out； sticking up between his teeth。 Mr。 Brownbee turning to voice the decision come to； cleared his throat。
〃Mr。 Heythorp；〃 he said； 〃if your bankers and solicitors bear out your statements； we shall accept your offer faute de mieux； in consideration of your〃 but meeting the old man's eyes； which said so very plainly： 〃Blow your consideration！〃 he ended with a stammer： 〃Perhaps you will kindly furnish us with the authorisation you spoke of？〃
Old Heythorp nodded； and Mr。 Brownbee； with a little bow； clasped his hat to his breast and moved towards the door。 The nine gentlemen followed。 Mr。 Ventnor； bringing up the rear； turned and looked back。 But the old man's eyes were already closed again。
The moment his creditors were gone； old Heythorp sounded the hand… bell。
〃Help me up； Mr。 Farney。 That Ventnorwhat's his holding？〃
〃Quite small。 Only ten shares； I think。〃
〃Ah！ What time is it？〃
〃Quarter to four； sir。〃
〃Get me a taxi。〃
After visiting his bank and his solicitors he struggled once more into his cab and caused it to be driven towards Millicent Villas。 A kind of sleepy triumph permeated his whole being； bumped and shaken by the cab's rapid progress。 So！ He was free of those sharks now so long as he could hold on to his Companies； and he would still have a hundred a year or more to spare for Rosamund and her youngsters。 He could live on four hundred； or even three…fifty； without losing his independence； for there would be no standing life in that holy woman's house unless he could pay his own scot！ A good day's work！ The best for many a long month！
The cab stopped before the villa。
3
There are rooms which refuse to give away their owners； and rooms which seem to say： 'They really are like this。' Of such was Rosamund Larne'sa sort of permanent confession； seeming to remark to anyone who entered： 'Her taste？ Well； you can seecheerful and exuberant； her habitsyes； she sits here all the morning in a dressing…gown； smoking cigarettes and dropping ink； kindly observe my carpet。 Notice the pianoit has a look of coming and going； according to the exchequer。 This very deep…cushioned sofa is permanent； however； the water…colours on the walls are safe； toothey're by herself。 Mark the scent of mimosashe likes flowers； and likes them strong。 No clock； of course。 Examine the bureaushe is obviously always ringing for 〃the drumstick；〃 and saying： 〃Where's this； Ellen； and where's that？ You naughty gairl； you've been tidying。〃 Cast an eye on that pile of manuscriptshe has evidently a genius for composition； it flows off her penlike Shakespeare； she never blots a line。 See how she's had the electric light put in； instead of that horrid gas； but try and turn either of them onyou can't； last quarter isn't paid； of course； and she uses an oil lamp； you can tell that by the ceiling： The dog over there； who will not answer to the name of 'Carmen；' a Pekinese spaniel like a little Djin； all prominent eyes rolling their blacks； and no nose betweenyes； Carmen looks as if she didn't know what was coming next； she's rightit's a pet…and…slap…again life！ Consider； too； the fittings of the tea… tray； rather soiled； though not quite tin； but I say unto you that no millionaire's in all its glory ever had a liqueur bottle on it。'
When old Heythorp entered this room； which extended from back to front of the little house； preceded by the announcement 〃Mr。 Aesop；〃 it was resonant with a very clatter…bodandigo of noises； from Phyllis playing the Machiche； from the boy Jock on the hearthrug； emitting at short intervals the most piercing notes from an ocarina； from Mrs。 Larne on the sofa； talking with her trailing volubility to Bob Pillin； from Bob Pillin muttering： 〃Ye…es！ Qui…ite！ Ye…es！〃 and gazing at Phyllis over his collar。 And； on the window…sill； as far as she could get from all this noise； the little dog Carmen was rolling her eyes。 At sight of their visitor Jock blew one rending screech； and bolting behind the sofa； placed his chin on its top； so that nothing but his round pink unmoving face was visible； and the dog Carmen tried to climb the blind cord。
Encircled from behind by the arms of Phyllis； and preceded by the gracious perfumed bulk of Mrs。 Larne； old Heythorp was escorted to the sofa。 It was low； and when he had plumped down into it； the boy Jock emitted a hollow groan。 Bob Pillin was the first to break the silence。
〃How are you； sir？ I hope it's gone through。〃
Old Heythorp nodded。 His eyes were fixed on the liqueur； and Mrs。 Larne murmured：
〃Guardy； you must try our new liqueur。 Jock； you awful boy； get up and bring Guardy a glass。〃
The boy Jock approached the tea…table； took up a glass； put it to his eye and filled it rapidly。
〃You horrible boy； you could see that glass has been used。〃
In a high round voice rather like an angel's； Jock answered：
〃All right； Mother； I'll get rid of it；〃 and rapidly swallowing the yellow liquor； took up another glass。
Mrs。 Larne laughed。
〃What am I to do with him？〃
A loud shriek prevented a response。 Phyllis； who had taken her brother by the ear to lead him to the door； let him go to clasp her injured self。
Bob Pillin went hastening towards her； and following the young man with her chin； Mrs。 Larne said； smiling：
〃Aren't those children awful？ He's such a nice fellow。 We like him so much； Guardy。〃
The old man grinned。 So she was making up to that young pup！ Rosamund Larne； watching him； murmured：
〃Oh！ Guardy； you're as bad as Jock。 He takes after you terribly。 Look at the shape of his head。 Jock； come here！〃 The innocent boy approached； with his girlish complexion； his flowery blue eyes； his perfect mouth； he stood before his mother like a large cherub。 And suddenly he blew his ocarina in a dreadful manner。 Mrs。 Larne launche