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But Sanxon Orchil had recently condescended to turn around in his office chair and leave his amusing railroad combinations long enough to divide with Neergard a quarter of a million copper profits; and there was another turn to be expected when Neergard gave the word.
This, very naturally, grieved and mortified the elder man; but what troubled him still more was that Gerald and Neergard were becoming so amazingly companionable; for it was easy to see that they had in common a number of personal interests which he did not share, and that their silence concerning these interests amounted to a secrecy almost offensive.
I met a man last night who said you had entered the firm of Neergard & Co." "I have. Who was the man?" "You can never guess, Captain Selwyn." "I don't want to. Who was he?" "Please don't terminate so abruptly the few subjects we have in reserve. We may be obliged to talk to each other for a number of minutes if Rosamund doesn't let us alone. . . . The man was 'Boots' Lansing." "'Boots! Here!"
Fane burst into a sonorous laugh and wagged his neck, saying: "Not at all! Not at all! Your reward for having the decency to stay out of the deal is an invitation from us to come in and be squeezed into a jelly by Mr. Neergard. Haw! Haw!" And so, one by one, with formal or informal but evidently friendly leave-taking, they went away.
Excited, incredulous, but hoping for the worst, Ruthven had posted off to his attorneys. To them he naïively confessed his desire to be rid of Alixe; he reported her misconduct with Neergard which he knew was a lie her pretence of mental prostration, her disappearance, and his last interview with Selwyn in the card-room.
On a great improvised open pavilion set up in the Hither Woods, garlanded and hung thick with multi-coloured paper lanterns, dancing had already begun; but Selwyn and Eileen lingered on the lawn for a while, fascinated by the beauty of the fireworks pouring skyward from the Niobrara. "They seem to be very gay aboard her," murmured the girl. "Once you said that you did not like Mr. Neergard.
Selwyn reddened with anger and beckoned to a clerk: "Is Mr. Neergard in his office?" "Yes, sir, with Mr. Erroll." "Please say that I wish to see him." He went into his own office, pocketed his mail, and still wearing hat and gloves came out again just as Gerald was leaving Neergard's office. "Hello, Gerald!" he said pleasantly; "have you anything on for to-night?"
And though Ruthven himself was a member of the Siowitha, Neergard had made no error in taking him secretly into the deal where together they were now in a position to exploit the club, from which Ruthven, of course, would resign in time to escape any assessment himself.
He had nearly finished cutting the leaves of the magazine before she spoke, mentioning the fact of Rosamund Fane's arrival at the Minsters' house, Brookminster. The slightest frown gathered and passed from her brother's sun-bronzed forehead, but he made no comment. "Mr. Neergard is a guest, too," she observed. "What?" exclaimed Selwyn, in disgust. "Yes; he came ashore with the Fanes."
"Yes, I would," began Rosamund, promptly, but Alixe interrupted: "Bring him over, Gerald." And as the boy thanked her and turned back: "I've a word to administer to that boy, Rosamund, so attack the Neergard creature with moderation, please. You owe me that at least." "No, I don't!" said Rosamund, disgusted; "I won't be afflicted with a " "Nobody wants you to be too civil to him, silly!
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