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The car stopped with a jerk, between floors. Orme had started to turn with the others, but with a quick exclamation he checked his movement and pressed his face again to the grating. A remarkable thing had happened. The ascending car in the next well had stopped at Alcatrante's outcry. The few passengers it was carrying, eager to see what was happening, hurried to the side nearest to Orme.
A note of indignation crept into Alcatrante's voice. "Are you evading? Perhaps you thought I would not insist on the verification." Another clerk, a man, had joined the girl behind the window. Alcatrante suddenly addressed him. "This Mr. Orme told me that he needed to raise money and would transfer to me cheap some notes signed by your company. I met him at the hotel.
He thought of the precious documents, safe in the inside pocket of his coat. What they were, he did not try to determine, but it was plain that they must be of international importance. The talk of ships and Alcatrante's references to commissions had puzzled him.
I don't need you." Arima bowed submissively. As for the stranger, his rage gave way to despair. "What shall I say to the Emperor?" he muttered. "What shall I say to the Emperor?" Then his feelings came again under control; he looked calmly at Alcatrante. "Well," he said, "what would you suggest?" Alcatrante's face was a puzzle.
And yet Orme was dubious. There was mischief in the bill; so much he felt sure of. Alcatrante's reputation was that of a fox, and as for Poritol, he was, to say the least, a person of uncertain qualities. Orme could not but admire the subtle manner in which Alcatrante sought delicately to limit his doubts to the mere possibility that Poritol was trying to pass spurious money.
"I was robbed," laughed Orme, trying to make light of the situation. "Why, how was that?" Alcatrante's surprise was well assumed. "Oh, after I said good-night to you, the two Japanese caught me while I was going through the tunnel to the courtyard." "My dear Mr. Orme!" "They are clever, those Japanese." "And afterward you went out again?" "What makes you think that?" Alcatrante bit his lip.
Bixby is absent," he remarked, "shall we leave the verification of the notes until to-morrow?" "What are you talking about?" exclaimed Orme. "Why" Alcatrante's face was the picture of astonishment "the Wallingham Company notes, of course. The notes you wish to sell me." His voice was raised so that the girl behind the window could not help hearing. "Rot!" said Orme. "What?"
He paused at the threshold, evidently to salute, for Poritol and Alcatrante bowed low. Then quick steps crossed the floor and into view came a nervous but assured-looking little figure a Japanese, but undoubtedly a man of great dignity. His manner of sharp authority would be hard to dispute, for it was supported by a personality that seemed to be stronger than Alcatrante's.
It occurred to Orme that the secret of the bill might be connected with the negotiation of a big business concession in Alcatrante's country. "S. R. Evans" might be trying to get control of rubber forests or mines in the Urinaba Mountains, perhaps, after all. In any event, he felt positive that the secret of the bill did not rightfully belong to Poritol.
"As things have turned out, I am glad that Poritol set his burglar on us when he did; otherwise Maku would have got the treaty at the last moment. Alcatrante's desire to secure a diplomatic advantage over the Japanese was really the saving of us." The Secretary paused. His face lighted up with a rare smile. "Above everything else, Mr. Orme, I thank you." He arose and rang for a servant.
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