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Heseltine-Wrigge rose unsteadily to his feet. He was a strong, silent man, but there was a queer look about his mouth. "What the devil do you mean?" he demanded. "Briefly this," Peter explained. "The first payment, when these ships were laid down, was made not by Turkey, but by an emissary of the German Government, who arranged the whole affair in Constantinople.
The security is unusual, but it's good enough for me." "It seems so to you, beyond a doubt," Peter replied. "Still, you have to do with a remarkably clever young man in the Count von Hern. I don't want to ask you any questions you feel I ought not to, but I do wish you'd tell me one thing." "Go right ahead," Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge invited. "Don't be shy." "What day are you concluding this affair?"
For a moment it seemed as though a struggle between the two men was inevitable. Already people were glancing at them curiously, for Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge came of a primitive school, and he had no intention whatever of letting his man escape. Fortunately, at that moment Count von Hern came up and Peter at once appealed to him. "Count," he said, "may I beg for your good offices? My friend, Mr.
"The security upon which you were going to advance a million and a half to the Turkish Government," Peter continued, "consisted of two Dreadnoughts and a cruiser, being built to the order of that country by Messrs. Shepherd and Hargreaves at Belfast." "Quite right," Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge admitted quietly. "I have been up and seen the boats. I have seen the shipbuilders, too."
He was looking forward to it now with feelings of undiluted satisfaction. Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge was in, he was told, and he was at once admitted to his presence. The financier greeted him with a somewhat curious smile. "Say, this is very nice of you to look me up again!" he exclaimed. "Still worrying about that loan, eh?" Peter shook his head.
That's why I've come blundering in to you, and why, I suppose, you'll be telling the whole story to the Count von Hern at luncheon in an hour's time." Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge smoked in silence for a moment or two. "This transaction of mine," he said at last, "isn't one I can talk about. I guess I'm on to what you want to know, but I simply can't tell you.
Heseltine-Wrigge here is determined to have a few words with Major Kosuth before he leaves. Surely this is not an unreasonable request when you consider the magnitude of the transaction which has taken place between them! Let me beg of you to persuade Major Kosuth to give us ten minutes. There is plenty of time for the train, and this is not the place for a brawl." Bernadine smiled.
He was wearing a fur coat and was otherwise attired for traveling. His luggage was already being piled upon a cab. Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge wasted no words upon him. "You and I have got to have a talk, right here and now," he declared. "Where's the Count?" Major Kosuth frowned gloomily. "I do not understand you," he said, shortly. "Our business is concluded and I am leaving by the two-twenty train."
"For a few moments only," Peter answered. "I am afraid I am a great nuisance, and, if you wish it, I will come down to the City again." "That's all right," Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge replied. "Myra won't mind waiting a minute or two. Come through here." He turned back and led the way into a quiet-looking suite of offices, where one or two clerks were engaged writing at open desks.
I paid it twenty-four hours ago." Peter whistled softly. "If only you had trusted me a little more!" he murmured. "I tried to warn you." Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge snatched up his hat. "They don't leave till the two-twenty," he shouted. "We'll catch them at the Milan. If we don't, I'm ruined! By God, I'm ruined!" They found Major Kosuth in the hall of the hotel.