United States or Belgium ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The inspector gravely saluted Josephine and accepted the chair to which she waved him. "Upon my word," Dredlinton declared, "this is most unsatisfactory! Most disappointing!" "I was afraid that you might find it so," the inspector assented. Josephine turned in her chair and contemplated the latter with some interest. He was quietly dressed in well-cut but unobtrusive clothes.
"And for the sake of that prejudice," Dredlinton observed, "you can afford to refuse such a profit as he offered you?" "I have other reasons for not wishing to sell," Wingate declared. "I have a very high opinion of Mr. Phipps' judgment as a business man. If the shares are worth so much as that to him, they are probably worth the same amount for me to keep." Lord Dredlinton shook his head.
You're all right, aren't you, Dredlinton?" "Right as rain," was the confident reply. "But let's hear your bid, if you're going to make one." "Bid? You've got nothing to sell," Phipps declared good humouredly, with a covert glance towards Wingate. "What are you getting rid of, eh? Your household goods?" "Come on, Phipps," Dredlinton persisted. "You're not going to fade away like that.
Curiously enough, not one of the three men raised their voices. Wingate's words seemed to have impressed them. Phipps drew one or two deep breaths, Stanley Rees rubbed his mouth on his sleeve. Dredlinton was the only one who broke into anything approaching violent speech. "My God, Wingate," he exclaimed, "if you think I'll ever forget this, you're mistaken!
Better disgorge your profits and sell while you have a chance." Dredlinton tapped a cigarette against his desk and lit it. "My dear fellow," he said, "you really ought to go into Parliament. Such eloquence is rather wasted in a City office." "I rather imagined that it would be," Wingate assented. "At the same time, I warned you that if I came I should speak my mind."
The woman who could refuse his millions, offered in such a manner, for him could have no real existence. Somewhere or other he must have blundered, he told himself. Or perhaps she was clever; she was leading him on to more definite things? "I came here, Lady Dredlinton," he said, "prepared to offer, if you would accept it, everything I possess in the world in return for a little kindness."
"If I have taken a liberty in coming to see you, Lady Dredlinton, without a direct invitation, I am going to apologise right away," he said. "I don't get much of an opportunity of a chat with you while the others are all around, and I felt this afternoon like taking my chance of finding you at home." "I am always glad to see my husband's friends," Josephine replied a little stiffly.
Lord Dredlinton remained entirely unruffled. He shrugged his shoulders with an air of protest. "You are a little severe, Mr. Wingate," he said, "but I promise you that Phipps shall keep his temper and that I will not be drawn into a quarrel. I am very pleased to see you here. My wife's friends are always mine. If you will excuse me, I will go and change my clothes now.
"I put the kibosh on it, according to orders." Peter Phipps pushed the cigars across the desk towards his companion. "Try one of these before you enter upon the labours of the day," he invited, "and just see what you think of these figures." Dredlinton glanced at the papers carelessly at first and then with genuine interest.
"Gives me the creeps to look at them." Peter Phipps smiled as he drew a box of cigars from his desk. "Then I will tell you the reason, my friend," he said. "For pleasure there is no one who appreciates beauty more than I do. For business I have a similar passion for efficiency. The two are never confused in my mind." "Regular paragon, aren't you!" Dredlinton murmured.
Word Of The Day