the yellow god-第4章

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is　granted。〃

For　one　moment　a　sort　of　tremor　passed　over　Sir　Robert's　impassive
countenance；　while　Mr。　Haswell　uttered　his　windy　whistle；　this　time　in
a　tone　of　plaintive　remonstrance。

〃As　you　have　formally　resigned　your　membership　of　the　firm；　I　do　not
see　that　any　useful　purpose　can　be　served　by　discussing　such　matters。
The　fullest　explanations；　of　course；　we　should　have　been　willing　to
give〃

〃My　dear　Alan；〃　broke　in　Mr。　Champers…Haswell；　who　was　quite　upset；　〃I
do　implore　you　to　reflect　for　one　moment；　for　your　own　sake。　In　a
single　week　you　would　have　been　a　wealthy　man；　do　you　really　mean　to
throw　away　everything　for　a　whim？〃

〃Perhaps　Vernon　remembers　that　he　holds　over　1700　of　the　Syndicate
shares　which　we　have　worked　up　to　￡18；　and　thinks　it　wiser　to　capture
the　profit　in　sight；　generally　speaking　a　very　sound　principle；〃
interrupted　Aylward　sarcastically。

〃You　are　mistaken；　Sir　Robert；〃　replied　Alan；　flushing。　〃The　way　that
those　shares　have　been　artificially　put　up　is　one　of　the　things　to
which　I　most　object。　I　shall　only　ask　for　mine　the　face　value　which　I
paid　for　them。〃

Now　notwithstanding　their　experience；　both　of　the　senior　partners　did
for　a　moment　look　rather　scared。　Such　folly；　or　such　honesty；　was
absolutely　incredible　to　them。　They　felt　that　there　must　be　much
behind。　Sir　Robert；　however；　recovered　instantly。

〃Very　well；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　not　for　us　to　dictate　to　you；　you　must
make　your　own　bed　and　lie　on　it。　To　argue　or　remonstrate　would　only　be
rude。〃　He　put　out　his　hand　and　pushed　the　button　of　an　electric　bell；
adding　as　he　did　so；　〃Of　course　we　understand　one　thing；　Vernon；
namely；　that　as　a　gentleman　and　a　man　of　honour　you　will　make　no
public　use　of　the　information　which　you　have　acquired　during　your　stay
in　this　office；　either　to　our　detriment；　personal　or　financial；　or　to
your　own　advantage。〃

〃Certainly　you　may　understand　that；〃　replied　Vernon。　〃Unless　my
character　is　attacked　and　it　becomes　necessary　for　me　to　defend
myself；　my　lips　are　sealed。〃

〃That　will　never　happenwhy　should　it？〃　said　Sir　Robert　with　a　polite
bow。

The　door　opened　and　the　head　clerk；　Jeffreys；　appeared。

〃Mr。　Jeffreys；〃　said　Sir　Robert；　〃please　find　us　the　deed　of
partnership　between　Major　Vernon　and　ourselves；　and　bring　it　here。　One
moment。　Please　make　out　also　a　transfer　of　Major　Vernon's　parcel　of
Sahara　Syndicate　shares　to　Mr。　Champers…Haswell　and　myself　at　par
value；　and　fill　in　a　cheque　for　the　amount。　Please　remove　also　Major
Vernon's　name　wherever　it　appears　in　the　proof　prospectus；　andyes
one　thing　more。　Telephone　to　Spectonthe　Right　Honourable　the　Earl　of
Specton；　I　mean；　and　say　that　after　all　I　have　been　able　to　arrange
that　he　shall　have　a　seat　on　the　Board　and　a　block　of　shares　at　a　very
moderate　figure；　and　that　if　he　will　wire　his　assent；　his　name　shall
be　put　into　the　prospectus。　You　approve；　don't　you；　Haswell？yes
then　that　is　all；　I　think；　Jeffreys；　only　please　be　as　quick　as　you
can；　for　I　want　to　get　away。〃

Jeffreys；　the　immaculate　and　the　impassive；　bowed；　and　casting　one
swift　glance　at　Vernon　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　departed。

What　is　called　an　awkward　pause　ensued；　in　fact　it　was　a　very　awkward
pause。　The　die　was　cast；　the　matter　ended；　and　what　were　the
principals　to　do　until　the　ratifications　had　been　exchanged　or；　a
better　simile　perhaps；　the　/decree　nisi/　pronounced　absolute。　Mr。
Champers…Haswell　remarked　that　the　weather　was　very　cold　for　April；
and　Alan　agreed　with　him；　while　Sir　Robert　found　his　hat　and　brushed
it　with　his　sleeve。　Then　Mr。　Haswell；　in　desperation；　for　in　minor
matters　he　was　a　kindly　sort　of　man　who　disliked　scenes　and
unpleasantness；　muttered　something　as　to　seeing　himAlanat　his
house；　The　Court；　in　Hertfordshire；　from　Saturday　to　Monday。

〃That　was　the　arrangement；〃　answered　Alan　bluntly；　〃but　possibly　after
what　has　happened　you　will　not　wish　that　it　should　be　kept。〃

〃Oh！　why　not；　why　not？〃　said　Mr。　Haswell。　〃Sunday　is　a　day　of　rest
when　we　make　it　a　rule　not　to　talk　business；　and　if　we　did；　perhaps　we
might　all　change　our　minds　about　these　matters。　Sir　Robert　is　coming；
and　I　am　sure　that　your　cousin　Barbara　will　be　very　disappointed　if
you　do　not　turn　up；　for　she　understands　nothing　about　these　city
things　which　are　Greek　to　her。〃

At　the　mention　of　the　name　of　Barbara　Sir　Robert　Aylward　looked　up
from　the　papers　which　he　affected　to　be　tidying；　and　Alan　thought　that
there　was　a　kind　of　challenge　in　his　eyes。　A　moment　before　he　had　made
up　his　mind　that　no　power　on　earth　would　induce　him　to　spend　a　Sunday
with　his　late　partners　at　The　Court。　Now；　acting　upon　some　instinct　or
impulse；　he　reversed　his　opinion。

〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　〃if　that　is　understood；　I　shall　be　happy　to　come。　I
will　drive　over　from　Yarleys　in　time　for　dinner　to…morrow。　Perhaps　you
will　say　so　to　Barbara。〃

〃She　will　be　glad；　I　am　sure；〃　answered　Mr。　Haswell；　〃for　she　told　me
the　other　day　that　she　wants　to　consult　you　about　some　outdoor
theatricals　that　she　means　to　get　up　in　July。〃

〃In　July！〃　answered　Alan　with　a　little　laugh。　〃I　wonder　where　I　shall
be　in　July。〃

Then　came　another　pause；　which　seemed　to　affect　even　Sir　Robert's
nerves；　for　abandoning　the　papers；　he　walked　down　the　room　till　he
came　to　the　golden　object　that　has　been　described；　and　for　the　second
time　that　day　stood　there　contemplating　it。

〃This　thing　is　yours；　Vernon；〃　he　said；　〃and　now　that　our　relations
are　at　an　end；　I　suppose　that　you　will　want　to　take　it　away。　What　is
its　history？　You　never　told　me。〃

〃Oh！　that's　a　long　story；〃　answered　Alan　in　an　absent　voice。　〃My
uncle；　who　was　a　missionary；　brought　it　from　West　Africa。　I　rather
forget　the　facts；　but　Jeekie；　my　negro　servant；　knows　them　all；　for　as
a　lad　my　uncle　saved　him　from　sacrifice；　or　something；　in　a　place
where　they　worship　these　things；　and　he　has　been　with　us　ever　since。
It　is　a　fetish　with　magical　powers　and　all　the　rest　of　it。　I　believe
they　call　it　the　Swimming　Head　and　other　names。　If　you　look　at　it；　you
will　see　that　it　seems　to　swim　between　the　shoulders；　doesn't　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Sir　Robert；　〃and　I　admire　the　beautiful　beast。　She　is
cruel　and　artistic；　likelike　finance。　Look　here；　Vernon；　we　have
quarrelled；　and　of　course　henceforth　are　enemies；　for　it　is　no　use
mincing　matters；　only　fools　do　that。　But　in　a　way　you　are　being　hardly
treated。　You　could　get　￡10　apiece　to…day　for　those　shares　of　yours　in
a　block　on　the　market；　and　I　am　paying　you　￡1。　I　understand　your
scruples；　but　there　is　no　reason　why　we　should　not　square　things。　This
fetish　of　yours　has　brought　me　luck；　so　let's　do　a　deal。　Leave　it
here；　and　instead　of　a　check　for　￡1700；　I　will　make　you　one　out　for
￡17；000。〃

〃That's　a　very　liberal　offer；〃　said　Vernon。　〃Give　me　a　moment　to　think
it　over。〃

Then　he　also　walked　into　the　corner　of　the　room　and　contemplated　the
golden　mask　that　seemed　to　float　between　the　frog…like　shoulders。　The
shimmering　eyes　drew　his　eyes；　though　what　he　saw　in　them　does　not
matter。　Indeed　he　could　never　remember。　Only　when　he　straightened
himself　again　there　was　left　on　his　mind　a　determination　that　not　for
seventeen　or　for　seventy　thousand　pounds　would　he　part　with　his
ownership　in　this　very　unique　fetish。

〃No；　thank　you；〃　he　said　presently。　〃I　don't　think　I　will　sell　the
Yellow　God；　as　Jeekie　calls　it。　Perhaps　you　will　kindly　keep　her　here
for　a　week　or　so；　until　I　make　up　my　mind　where　to　stow　her。〃

Again　Mr。　Champers…Haswell　uttered　his　windy　whistle。　That　a　man
should　refuse　￡17；000　for　a　bit　of　African　gold　worth　￡100　or　so；
struck　him　as　miraculous。　But　Sir　Robert　did　not　seem　in　the　least
surprised；　only　very　disappointed。

〃I　quite　understand　your　dislike　to　selling；〃　he　said。　〃Thank　you　for
leaving　it　here　for　the　present　to　see　us　through　the　flotation；〃　and
he　laughed。

At　that　moment　Jeffreys　entered　the　room　with　the　documents。　Sir
Robert　handed　the　deed　of　partnership　to　Alan；　and　when　he　had
identified　it；　took　it　from　him　again　and　threw　it　on　the　fire；　saying
that　of　course　the　formal　letter　of　release　would　be　posted　and　the
dissolution　notified　in　the　/Gazette/。　Then　the　transfer　was　signed
and　the　cheque　delivered。

〃Well；　good…bye　till　Saturday；〃　said　Alan　when　he　had　received　the
latter；　and　nodding　to　them　both；　he　turned　and　left　the　room。

The　passage　ran　past　the　little　room　in　which　Mr。　Jeffreys；　the　head
clerk；　sat　alone。　Catching　sight　of　him　through　the　open　door；　Alan
entered；　shutting　it　behind　him。　Finding　his　key　ring　he　removed　from
it　the　keys　of　his　desk　and　of　the　office　strongroom；　and　handed　them
to　the　clerk　who；　methodical　in　everything；　proceeded　to　write　a
formal　receipt。

〃You　are　leaving　us；　Major　Vernon？〃　he　said　interrogatively　as　he
signed　the　paper。

〃Yes；　Jeffreys；〃　answered　Alan；　then　prompted　by　some　impulse；　added；
〃Are　you　sorry？〃

Mr。　Jeffreys　looked　up　and　there　were　traces　of　unwonted　emotion　upon
his　hard；　regulated　face。

〃For　myself；　yes；　Majorfor　you；　on　the　whole；　no。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Jeffreys？　I　do　not　quite　understand。〃

〃I　mean；　Major；　that　I　am　sorry　because　you　have　never　tried　to
shuffle　off　any　shady　business　on　to　my　back　and　leave　me　to　bear　the
brunt　of　it；　also　because　you　have　always　treated　me　as　a　gentleman
should；　not　as　a　machine　to　be　used　until　a　better　can　be　found；　and
kicked　aside　when　it　goes　out　of　order。〃

〃It　is　very　kind　of　you　to　say　so；　Jeffreys；　but　I　can't　remember
having　done　anything　particular。〃

〃No；　Major；　you　can't　remember　what　comes　natural　to　you。　But　I　and
the　others　remember；　and　that's　why　I　am　sorry。　But　for　yourself　I　am
glad；　since　although　Aylward　and　Haswell　have　put　a　big　thing　through
and　are　going　to　make　a　pot　of　money；　this　is　no　place　for　the　likes
of　you；　and　now　that　you　are　going　I　will　make　bold　to　tell　you　that　I
always　wondered　what　you　were　doing　here。　By　and　by；　Major；　the　row
will　come；　as　it　has　come　more　than　once　in　the　past；　before　your
time。〃

〃And　then？〃　said　Alan；　for　he　was　anxious　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　this
man's　mind；　which　hitherto　he　had　always　found　so　secret。

〃And　then；　Major；　it　won't　matter　much　to　Messrs。　Aylward　and
Champers…Haswell；　who　are　used　to　that　kind　of　thing　and　will　probably
dissolve　partnership　and　lie　quiet　for　a　bit；　and　still　less　to　folk
like　myself；　who　are　only　servants。　But　if　you　were　still　here　it
would　have　mattered　a　great　deal　to　you；　for　it　would　blacken　your
name　and　break　your　heart；　and　then　what's　the　good　of　the　money？　I
tell　you；　Major；〃　the　clerk　went　on　with　quiet　intensity；　〃though　I　am
nobody　and　nothing；　if　I　could　afford　it　I　would　follow　your　example。
But　I　can't；　for　I　have　a　sick　wife　and　a　family　of　delicate　children
who　have　to　live　half　the　year　on　the　south　coast；　to　say　nothing　of
my　old　mother；　andI　was　fool　enough　to　be　taken　in　and　back　Sir
Robert's　last　little　venture；　which　cost　me　all　I　had　saved。　So　you
see　I　must　make　a　bit　before　the　machine　is　scrapped；　Major。　But　I
tell　you　this；　that　if　I　can　get　￡5000　together；　as　I　hope　to　do　out
of　Saharas　before　I　am　a　month　older；　for　they　had　to　give　me　a　look…
in；　as　I　knew　too　much；　I　am　off　to　the　country；