On driving up to the Grand Hotel shortly after six o’clock, he found both Captain Wilkie and Mr. Docketts, the marine lawyer, waiting for him, and the three went together up to the engaged apartments.
“So they haven’t put you in quod, captain,” said the young man, as he shook hands with him.
“No, sir; they thought better of that. In fact, there seems to be a good deal of hesitation6 about their procedure. They placed men in possession, and then have taken them out again. Just before I left the ship a fresh lot came aboard. At first they were going to put handcuffs on me, then they consulted about it, and asked if I could provide bail. Not knowing whether you wished me to go to prison or not, I refused to answer.”
“Safest thing in the absence of instructions,” put in Mr. Docketts. “What is it all about, my lord?”
“It’s rather a complicated case, Mr. Docketts,” said Stranleigh, throwing himself into the easiest chair he could find, “and it is not necessary to go into the whole story at the present time.”
The lawyer shook his head doubtfully.
“If I am to be of any assistance, Lord Stranleigh, I think you should tell me everything. A point that may seem unimportant to the lay mind, often proves of the utmost significance to the legal student.”
“You are wrong, Mr. Docketts. What you are thinking of is the detective story. It is the detective that the slightest incident furnishes with an important clew. You mustn’t insult my intellect by calling it a lay mind, Mr. Docketts, because I take my marine law from that excellent practitioner9, Clark Russell; therefore, when it comes to ships I know what I am talking about. The first point I wish to impress on you is that I am not to appear in this case. No one is to know who engages you. The second point is that no action will be fought in the courts. I could settle the case in ten minutes merely by going to the venerable Conrad Schwartzbrod, who has heedlessly set the law in action; but such a course on my part would be most unfair to an eminent10 limb of the law like yourself, who wishes to earn honest fees.”
Mr. Docketts bowed rather gravely, an inclination11 of the head which contrived12 subtly to convey respect for his lordship’s rank in life, and yet mild disapproval13 of his flippant utterances14.
“I always advise my clients, my lord, to avoid litigation if they can.”
“Quite right, Mr. Docketts. That is good legal etiquette15, so long as the advice is conveyed in such a manner that it does not convince the client. Now this steamer, the Rajah, belongs to me, but it has been chartered for a number of months by the aforesaid Conrad Schwartzbrod—I trust I am using correct legal phraseology—and the aforesaid Conrad Schwartzbrod is one of the rankest, most unscrupulous scoundrels that the city of London has ever produced, which statement is regrettably libelous17, but without prejudice, and uttered solely18 in the presence of friends. The law, of course, is designed to settle, briefly19 and inexpensively, such disputes as may be brought before it, nevertheless it is my wish that the law shall be twisted and turned from its proper purpose, so that this case may be dragged on as long as may be, with injunctions, and restraints, and cross pleas, and demurrers, and mandamuses, or any other damus things you can think of. Whenever you find you are cornered, Mr. Docketts, and must come into the light of day before a judge, you telegraph to me, and you will be astonished to know how speedily everything will be quashed.”
Again the lawyer bowed very solemnly.
“I think I understand your lordship,” he said impressively.
“I am sure of it, and I hope you will do me the pleasure of remembering your quickness of comprehension, so that you may charge extra for it when you send in the bill. I assure you, quite candidly20, that nothing gives me such delight as the paying of an adequate fee to a competent man. If these people should attempt any further molestation21 of Captain Wilkie, you are to protect him, and I will furnish bail to any amount, reasonable or the reverse. And now, Mr. Docketts, if you will let me have your card, with your address on it, I shall leave the case in your hands.”
Mr. Docketts complied with the request, and took his deferential22 departure. Captain Wilkie also rose, but Stranleigh waved him to his seat again.
“Sit you down, captain. Has the Wychwood sailed yet?”
“No, sir, she has not. I met Captain Simmons yesterday. He came across to the Rajah to take away some of his belongings23 that were still in his cabin. He said the Wychwood might be ready for sea to-morrow or next day.”
“Well, I think I’ll go over and call on him. I can do that before dinner. The estimable Mackeller has been my cook for some time past, and if this lucky action had not been begun by that public benefactor24, Schwartzbrod, I do not know what would have become of me, for I did not wish to cast any reflection upon Mackeller’s kitchen skill by desertion. But now that I have been compelled by law to desert him, I hope, captain, you will take pity on a lonesome man, and dine here with me at eight o’clock. I’ll order such a dinner as will make this tavern25 sit up. You’ll stand by, won’t you, captain?”
“Thank you, sir, I’ll be delighted.”
“Well, that’s settled. Now, if you will guide me to the Wychwood, I’ll go aboard for a chat with Captain Simmons, and you will meet me in the dining room at eight o’clock.”
The two parted alongside that huge steamer, the Wychwood, and Stranleigh climbed aboard, greeting Captain Simmons on deck.
“Well, captain, you haven’t got off yet?”
“No, sir—my lord, not yet,” said the astonished captain. “If you’d sent word you was coming, earl, I’d have had dinner prepared for you. As it is, there’s nothing fit to eat aboard.”
“I am accustomed to that, captain. I was just complaining to Wilkie, who brought me here, that Mackeller was my cook, and he seemed to sympathize. No, it’s the other way about. You’re coming to dine with me. I’ve invited Captain Wilkie, and we will form a hungry trio about a round table at the Grand Hotel to-night at eight. Three Plymouth brethren, as you may call us: you two practical salts, and me an amateur. Have you been back to that little cottage on Southampton water?”
“No, my lord—sir, but I keep a-thinking of it all the time with great pleasure, and the wife or one of the girls writes to me every day. They are delighted, sir—my lord. I didn’t know till after you left that ’twas you had bought all that furniture, but you must let me pay for that, earl, on the instalment plan.”
“Oh, that’s all right, captain. You wait till I send round a collector. Never worry about payment till it’s asked for. That’s been my rule in life. Now, captain, take me down to your cabin. I wish to have a quiet chat with you, and on deck, with men about, is a little too public.”
The captain led the way, and Stranleigh, standing26, gazed about him.
“Ah, this is something like. This beats the Rajah, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does, my lord—I mean sir. I never expected to find myself in a cabin like this, sir, and a fine ship she is, too; well found and stanch27. I’d like to sail her into Southampton water some day, just to let the missus and the kids see her.”
“I’ll tell you what you must do, captain. Send a telegram to Mrs. Simmons and the girls, asking them to lock up the shop, and come at once to Plymouth. I’ll make arrangements for them at the Grand Hotel and they’ll stay here until you sail, which can’t be for some days yet. And now to business, captain. Old Schwartzbrod has discovered where the Rajah is, and has jumped aboard with a blooming injunction or some such lawyer’s devilment as that: tried to habeas corpus innocent old Wilkie, or whatever they call it; anyhow, something that goes with handcuffs, but the old boy was game right through to the backbone28, and was willing to go to the Bastile itself if his doing so would accommodate me, but I’ve invited him to dinner instead.”
“Then Schwartzbrod will be trying to find me, very likely?” said Captain Simmons, in no way pleased with the prospect29.
“I shouldn’t wonder, so I’d keep my weather eye abeam30, if I were you, for very likely Schwartzbrod is in Plymouth. Still, I’ve told an eminent lawyer to go full speed ahead, and I anticipate Schwartzbrod will have quite enough to occupy his mind in a few days. Now, Captain Simmons, although our acquaintance has been very short, I am going to trust you fully8. Since this action was taken by Schwartzbrod, it has occurred to me that the proper person to go to the Paramakaboo River is the redoubtable31 captain who has already been there, and that person is yourself.”
“Well; sir, Captain Wilkie has also been there, in your yacht, and perhaps he’d like this new ship. I’m sure he doesn’t care about the Rajah.”
“Oh, he doesn’t need to care about the Rajah. He’s off the Rajah for good, and will take command of my yacht again. No, you are the man for the Paramakaboo. You know Frowningshield, and you know his gang, and he knows you. Now, I leave everything to your own discretion32. If you tell Frowningshield how everything stands, there is one chance in a thousand he may seize the Wychwood, and compel you to sail for Lisbon, or wherever he likes. It all depends how deeply he is in with that subtle rogue33, Schwartzbrod.”
“I’ll tell him nothing about it, sir.”
“That’s my own advice. I should say nothing except that they have furnished you with a larger steamer, so that you can get away with double the quantity of ore, all of which is true enough. But if circumstances over which you have no control compel you to divulge34 the true state of affairs, get Frowningshield alone here in the cabin, and talk to him as I talked to you on the high seas. He’s engaged in a criminal business, whether he is under the jurisdiction35 of the British flag or not; but the main point I wish you to impress upon him is this: I shall stand in Schwartzbrod’s place; that is to say, I shall make good to him, as I made good to you, every promise that rascal36 has given. I know that virtue37 is its own reward, yet I sometimes wish that virtue would oftener deal in the coin of the realm in addition. It doesn’t seem fair that all the big compensations are usually on the devil’s side. Anyhow, I trust this ship and this business entirely38 to you. You act as you think best, and if they compel you to sail to Lisbon or anywhere else, telegraph fully to me whenever you get into touch with a wire. I don’t anticipate any trouble of that kind, however. Frowningshield will know on which side his bread is buttered, even if he is a villain39, which I don’t believe. Now, Schwartzbrod promised you five thousand pounds extra for three trips to Lisbon, and two thousand pounds for every additional voyage. How many additional voyages could you have made?”
“I couldn’t have made one, sir, with the Rajah.”
“Well, let us call it two. That amounts to nine thousand pounds. I’ll give you a check for that amount to-morrow, and you can hand it to the missus to put in the bank when she returns to Southampton.”
“I couldn’t think of taking that from you, sir,” said the captain, with an unfeigned look of distress40.
“It’s not from me at all, Captain Simmons. I am going to make Schwartzbrod hand over that amount to my bank. I am merely anticipating his payments; passing it on from him to you, as it were. In a similar way I shall recompense Frowningshield, and I shall give you a sufficient number of gold sovereigns with which to pay all his men, and this will create a certain satisfaction in the camp, even although there is no spot within a thousand miles where they can spend a penny. So, captain, you will load up your ship with an ample supply of provisions for those in camp, and take out to them anything that you think they may need, charging the same to me, which account I shall pass on to Schwartzbrod.”
“But isn’t there a chance, sir, that Schwartzbrod may charter another steamer, in which case we may have to fight?”
“No, I don’t think so. I am having old Schwartzbrod watched, and from the latest report he has not even chartered a rowboat. No, I have extended his charter of the Rajah for an extra three months, and he will hope to get possession of her. It will take him a few days to realize the extent of the law’s delay, and with such a start, together with the speed of the Wychwood you will find no difficulty about filling this ship, and getting away without encountering any opposition42. No, I don’t want any fight. You see, I can’t spare Mackeller, and it would break his heart to think there was a ruction and he not in it.
“Here is a suggestion which has just occurred to me, and you may act on it or not as circumstances out there dictate43. When the Wychwood is fully loaded with ore, and ready to sail, you might ask Frowningshield to come aboard with you for that twelve-mile run down the river. The steam launch could follow and take him back. Inform him that you have something important to say which cannot be told ashore44, then get him down here into your cabin, and relate to him everything that has happened. He cannot stop the Wychwood then if he wanted to. Your crew will obey you, and no matter what commands he gave them to put about, they would pay no attention to him. Show him that he can make more money by being honest than by following the lead of old Schwartzbrod. Tell him you have received your nine thousand pounds—and, by the way, that reminds me I had better give you the check tonight before dinner, so that you can post it to your bank at Southampton, and receive the bank’s receipt for it before you sail. The deposit receipt will be just as cheering to Mrs. Simmons as the check would be—and then you can tell Frowningshield, quite conscientiously45, that the money is already in your hands. I always believe in telling the truth to a pirate like Frowningshield if it is at all possible. Don’t imagine I’m preaching, captain. What I mean is that the truth is ever so much more convincing than even the cleverest of lies. We will suppose, then, that Frowningshield comes to the same decision that you did, and agrees to join me in preserving my own property from an unscrupulous thief. In that case tell him that Schwartzbrod will very likely send some other steamer to carry away the ore, as soon as he realizes he cannot again get hold of the Rajah, and that I shall expect Frowningshield and his merry men not to allow such a vessel46 to take away any of my ore.”
“Shall I tell him to sink Schwartzbrod’s steamer?”
“Sink her? No, bless my soul, no. What would you sink her for? Tell him to use gentle persuasion47, and not give up the ore. An ordinary crew cannot fill the hold with ore which a hundred and fifty men refuse to allow them to touch. You don’t need to fight. If Frowning-shield will just line up his hundred and fifty men along that reef, one glance at their interesting faces will convince any ship’s captain that he’d be safer out at sea.
“I think the Wychwood will answer our purposes very well. She is large and fast. Try to find out, if you can, exactly what Schwartzbrod promised Frowningshield and his men, and let me know when you return. Now, captain, I think you understand pretty well what your new duties are, so get off for the south just as quickly as you can. Meanwhile we must be moving on toward the Grand Hotel. I’m rather anxious to meet that dinner, and on the way we will send a telegram to Mrs. Simmons and the family. After that we three roisterers will make a night of it, for I must go up to London to-morrow.”
Mackeller worked industriously48 at his smelting50, dumping the gold down into the abandoned mine after his assistants had left him for the night. He was anxious to hear what had become of the Rajah, and what had happened to Captain Wilkie threatened with imprisonment51, but no letter came from Lord Stranleigh, which was not to be wondered at, for all Stranleigh’s friends knew his dislike of writing.
The third morning after Stranleigh’s departure Mackeller received a long telegram which had evidently been handed in at London the night before. At first Mackeller thought it was in cipher52, but a close study of the message persuaded him that no code was necessary for its disentanglement. It ran as follows:
“Take half a pound of butter, one pound of flour, half a pound of moist sugar, two eggs, one teaspoonful53 of essence of lemon, one fourth glass of brandy or sherry. Rub the butter, flour, and sugar well together, mix in the eggs after beating them, add the essence of lemon and the brandy. drop the cakes upon a frying pan, and bake for half an hour in a quick oven.”
Mackeller muttered some strenuous54 remarks to himself as at last he gathered in the purport55 of this communication. He detained the telegraph boy long enough to write a line which he sent to Lord Stranleigh’s residence at a cost of sixpence.
“What have you done about the Rajah—Mackeller.”
Late in the afternoon the telegraph boy returned, and bestowed56 upon the impatient and now irascible Mackeller the following instructions:
“For two persons alone at the mouth of a pit take one plump fowl57, add white pepper and salt to suit the taste, one half spoonful of grated nutmeg, one half spoonful of pounded mace58, a few slices of ham, three hard-boiled eggs, sliced thin, half a pint59 of water, and some puff60 paste crust to cover. Stew61 for half an hour, and when done strain off the liquor for gravy62. Put a layer of fowl at the bottom of a pie dish, then a layer of ham, then the slices of hard-boiled egg, with the mace, nutmeg, pepper and salt between the layers. Put in half a pint of water, cover with puff paste, and bake for an hour and a half.”
“I suppose,” growled63 Mackeller to himself, “he thinks that’s funny, but it will cost him a pretty penny if he keeps it up every day.”
“Any answer?” said the telegraph boy.
“Yes,” answered Mackeller, and being made reckless by example, he wrote a more lengthy64 message than was customary with him:
“Everything going on well here. The cooking I am doing consists in the production of hardbake cake, and the receipt is as follows: Take ore from Africa, salt and pepper to suit the taste, mix it with hard coal from the north, quick fire and a hot oven. When completely baked run into molds of sand, and place in a deep cellar to cool. Save the money you are wasting on the postoffice department by sending me, through parcel post, the cook book from which you are stealing those items, and use a telegram to let me know what has happened to the Rajah and Captain Wilkie.”
In the evening an answer came.
“That’s not a bad receipt of yours, Mackeller. I didn’t think so serious a man as you was capable of such frivolity65. The Rajah is in Chancery, in litigation, in irons, in Plymouth harbor, in-junctioned. I expect it will be a long time before the Rajah gets out of court. Captain Wilkie is all right, and back on my yacht. The Wychwood, with Simmons in command, is off to Paramakaboo. I expect to be with you after you have had time to study the volume which at your suggestion I send to-day by parcel post; ‘Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management’; bulky but useful.”
Lord Stranleigh did not return, however, as promised, to the Cornish mine. Although apparently66 leading an aimless life at home, or in one or other of his clubs, or at an interesting race meeting, he was keeping his eye on Schwartzbrod by means of an efficient secret agent. He wondered how soon so shrewd a man as the financier would come to the knowledge that the Rajah was tied up with the red tape of the law, as immovable in her berth67 as if she had been chained to the breakwater by cables of steel. He was determined68 that Schwartzbrod should not further complicate7 the situation by sending out another steamer on an ore-stealing expedition to West Africa; and when at last he received a report from his agent that Schwartzbrod’s men were in negotiation69 once more with Sparling & Bilge of Southampton, the indolent young man thought it time to strike, so he telephoned to Schwartz-brod, asking him to call at his town house next morning at half past ten, bringing his check book with him.
Schwartzbrod, spluttering at his end of the telephone, wished further explanation about the request for the check book. The charter money, he said, was not due. Nothing had been said in the document signed about payment in advance, but Stranleigh rang off, and left the financier guessing. When, some minutes later, Schwartzbrod got once more into communication with the house, the quiet-voiced Ponderby told him that his lordship had left for his club, but would expect to see him promptly70 at half past ten next day.
When Schwartzbrod arrived, he was shown this time into Lord Stranleigh’s scantily71 furnished business office on the ground floor. He had been so anxious to know what the cause of the summons was that he found himself ten minutes before the half hour, and that ten minutes he spent alone in the little room. As the clock in the hall chimed the half hour, the door opened, and Lord Stranleigh entered.
“Good morning, Mr. Schwartzbrod. There are several little business matters which I wish to discuss with you and, as I expect to leave London shortly, I thought we might as well get it over.” Stranleigh sat down in a chair on the opposite side of the table from the keen-eyed city man, who watched him with furtive72 sharpness.
“As I was telling you, my lord, there is nothing in the papers you signed saying that any payment was to be made in advance on account of the Rajah.”
“You object, then, to paying in advance?”
“I don’t object, my lord, if it’s any accommodation to you. The first payment, you see, was made to Messrs. Sparling & Bilge.”
“Of course, I’ve nothing to do with that.”
“Well, the second amount I did not expect to be called on to pay until the steamer had earned some money.”
“Ah, yes, I see. That seems quite just. The steamer, then, hasn’t been earning money, I take it.”
“It is too soon yet to say, my lord, whether she is earning money or not.”
“Is she still at South America?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Has she not returned since I saw you last?”
“No, my lord.”
“That’s very strange,” murmured Stranleigh, more to himself than to the other. “Shows how blooming inaccurate73 those newspapers are.”
He took out from his inside pocket a thin memorandum74 book, searched slowly among some slips of loose paper, and at last took out a cutting from some daily journal.
“The paper from which I clipped this was issued a day or two after we last met. My attention was called to the item by the fact that so shortly before we had been in negotiation regarding the Rajah; successful and pleasant negotiation, if I remember rightly, and I signed the papers you presented to me without consulting a solicitor1, and the impression left on my mind is that you went away satisfied.”
“Oh, I was perfectly75 satisfied, my lord, perfectly satisfied. Yes, you very kindly76 signed the renewal77 of the charter.”
“You said, if I remember rightly, that the trip of the Rajah was merely an experiment. It had something to do with the cattle business; a ranch78, or several ranches79, in the Argentine Republic.”
“Quite right, my lord. I regret to say the business has not been as prosperous as I had hoped.”
“I am sorry to hear that. I have always looked on ranching80 as a sure way to wealth, but it seems there are exceptions. Now, you said to me that if the experiment did not prove successful, which, regrettably, seems to be the case, you would turn the Rajah over to me when she returned.”
“But she has not returned, my lord.”
“Then what does this journal mean by stating that a few days after we foregathered in this house the Rajah arrived at Plymouth from Brest, in France?”
“That must be a mistake, my lord. Would you let me read the item?”
Schwartzbrod extended his hand, trembling slightly, and took the slip of paper, adjusting his glasses to see the better, visibly gaining time before committing himself further.
“The item is very brief,” commented Stranleigh, “still, it is definite enough. ‘Steamer Rajah, Captain Wilkie, arrived at Plymouth from Brest.’”
“That cannot have been our Rajah,” said Schwartzbrod at last, having collected his wits. “The captain on your steamer, my lord, is named Simmons.”
“Simmons? Oh, Captain Simmons of Southampton? Why, I know the man. A fine, bluff81 old honest tar41, one of the bulwarks82 of Britain. So Simmons was the captain of the Rajah, was he? Still, he may have resigned.”
“He couldn’t resign in midocean, my lord.”
“Oh, I’ve known the thing done. I’ve known captains transferred from one steamer to another on the high seas.”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing, my lord, unless one vessel was disabled, and then abandoned when another came along.”
“My dear Mr. Schwartzbrod, accept my assurance that these daring devils of sea captains do things once they are out of our sight which we honest men ashore would not think of countenancing83.”
“I thought you said just now they were the bulwarks of Britain?”
“So they are, so they are, but bulwarks, Mr. Schwartzbrod, need to be made of stouter84 and coarser timber than that which lines the cabin. You must not think I am attributing anything criminal to our captain, Mr. Schwartzbrod; not at all, but it has often seemed to me that they do not always pay that scrupulous16 attention to the law which animates85 our business men in the city of London, for instance. A captain out of the jurisdiction of England, much as it may shock you to hear it, will dare to do things that would make our hair stand on end, and send a lawyer or a judge into a dead faint. Now, there’s the Captain Simmons, of whom you just spoke86. He tells me that he has undertaken devilish deeds in out-of-the-way parts of the world which he would not think of doing under that arch in the main street of Southampton.”
The company promoter moistened his lips, and stroked the lower part of his face gently with his open hand. Lord Stranleigh beamed across at him with kindly expectancy87, as if wishing some sympathetic corroboration88 of the statements he had made. At last the city man spoke.
“You have perhaps had more experience with seafaring people than I, my lord. I had always supposed them to be a rough-and-ready sort of folk, as reasonably honest as the rest of us.”
“It was to be expected, Mr. Schwartzbrod, that your kind heart would hesitate to credit anything condemnatory89 said about them. Because you would not do this or that, you think other people are equally blameless. Take Captain Simmons, for instance, and yet, when I think of him I remember, of course, there were mitigating90 circumstances in the case. Captain Simmons had set his eye on a little bit of property, something like five acres, stretching down to Southampton water. There was a cottage and a veranda91, and the veranda seemed to lure92 Captain Simmons with its prospect of peace, as he passed up Southampton water in command of the disreputable old Rajah. But Simmons never could succeed in saving the money to buy this modest homestead, but at last far more than the money necessary was offered him if he did a certain thing. It was a bribe93, Mr. Schwartzbrod, and perhaps at first he did not see where he was steering94 the blunt snout of the old Rajah. He did not completely comprehend into what miasmatic95 and turbid96 waters his course would lead him. But when at last he saw it was involving him in theft, in wholesale97 robbery, and in potential murder, in the sinking of ships, and the drowning of crews, Simmons drew back.”
A gentle expression of concern came into Lord Stranleigh’s face as he saw the man before him in visible distress, sinking lower and lower in his chair. His face was ghastly: only the eyes seemed alive, and they were fixed98 immovably on his opponent, striving to penetrate99 at the thought or the knowledge that might be behind the mask of carelessness he wore.
“Don’t you feel well, Mr. Schwartzbrod? Would you like a little stimulant100?”
Without waiting for an answer he rang the bell.
“Bring some whisky and soda101,” he said, “also a decanter of brandy.”
Schwartzbrod took a cautious sip102 or two of the weaker beverage103.
“Were any names mentioned?” he asked.
“Simmons told me the tempter was a city man; some rank scoundrel who wished to profit by another’s loss, and did not hesitate at robbery so long as he was legally safe in London, and others were taking the risk. They were to take the risk, and he was to secure the property. I even doubt if he intended to give the recompense he had promised. It amounted in Simmons’s case to nine thousand pounds, and only one thousand was needed for the purchase of the place on which he had set his heart.”
“But Simmons must have known, if such a sum was offered him, that he was undertaking104 a shady transaction?”
“That’s exactly what I told him, but, you see, he had committed himself before he realized what he was letting himself in for. ‘Chuck the whole business,’ I said to him. ‘You’ve got friends enough who’ll buy that little place and present it to you. I am willing myself to subscribe105 part of the money,’ and so Simmons struck. He is off, I understand, on another steamer. He has influential106 friends who got him a better situation than the one he held. Now, as I have said, I am willing to put some money on the table to buy that little house near Southampton. How much will you give, Mr. Schwartzbrod?”
Schwartzbrod now took a gulp107 of the whisky and soda. His courage was returning.
“Do you mean to tell me, Lord Stranleigh, that you have called a busy man like me to the West End in order to ask him for a charity subscription108?”
“But surely you subscribe to many charities, Mr. Schwartzbrod?”
“I do not. It’s as much as I can do to keep my own head above water, without troubling with other people. I believe in being just before being generous. If I pay my debts, that’s all any man can ask.”
“Most true philosophy, Mr. Schwartzbrod, but a little hard, you know. Some poor fellows get under the harrow, and surely we may stop our cultivation109 for a moment, and lift the harrow long enough to allow him to crawl out.”
Schwartzbrod finished the whisky and soda, but made no further comment.
“It was not altogether for charitable purposes that I requested the pleasure of your call. There is business mixed with it. But you, Schwartzbrod, try to place the worst side of yourself before the world. You are really a very generous man. At heart you are; now, you know it.”
“I don’t know anything about it, my lord, and I do not understand the trend of this conversation.”
“Well, I have come to the conclusion that you are one of the most generous men in London. You have done things that I think no other business man in London would attempt. You do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame, as I think the poet said. You’ve been doing me a great benefit, and yet you’ve kept quiet about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why, I mean Frowningshield and his hundred and fifty men on my gold reef.”
“What!” roared Schwartzbrod, springing to his feet.
“The kidnapping of Mackeller I did not mind. That’s all in the day’s work, and a mining engineer must expect a little rough and tumble in this world.”
“I had nothing to do with that, my lord.”
“No, it was Frowningshield who did it. Am I not saying that you are perfectly blameless? When I learned about the Rajah’s expedition, about the money offered to Captain Simmons, about the compensation that was to be given to Frowningshield, about the running of the ore to Lisbon; when I heard all this, so prejudiced was my brain that I said to myself: ‘Here I’ve caught the biggest thief in the world.’ But when I learned that you had done it, I saw at once what your object was. You were going to smelt49 that ore without expense to me, take it over in ingots to England, and say, ‘Here, Lord Stranleigh, you’re not half a bad sort of chap. You don’t understand anything about mining or the harsh ways of this world. Here is your gold.’”
Schwartzbrod poured down his throat a liquor glass full of brandy, and collapsed110 in his chair.
“You see, Mr. Schwartzbrod, there were only two alternatives for a poor brain like mine to accept: first, that you are the most generous man in the world; second, that you are the most daring robber in the world. Do you think I hesitated? Not for a moment. I knew you were no thief. Thieves are in Whitechapel, and Soho, and the East End generally, but not in the City of London. They’re all men of law there. You are not a thief, are you, Mr. Schwartzbrod? No. Then sit down, honest man, and write me a check for the nine thousand pounds I have already paid to Captain Simmons, and for the amount which you promised to Frowningshield. I accept the benefit of your generosity111 in the same spirit in which it is tendered. I do not ask you where the gold is, I’ll look after that; but the new ship you are trying to charter must not sail for the Paramakaboo. I cannot accept further kind offices from you. All I ask of you is to write a check for such an amount that it will fulfill112 the promises you made to Simmons and Frowningshield. That’s why I requested you to bring your check book.”
Schwartzbrod, with a groan113, sat down at the table and drew forth114 his check book.
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1
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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solicitors
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| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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7
complicate
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| vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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practitioner
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| n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者 | |
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10
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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12
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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13
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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14
utterances
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| n.发声( utterance的名词复数 )；说话方式；语调；言论 | |
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15
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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16
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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17
libelous
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| adj.败坏名誉的，诽谤性的 | |
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18
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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19
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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20
candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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21
molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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22
deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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23
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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24
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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25
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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26
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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27
stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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28
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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29
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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30
abeam
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| adj.正横着(的) | |
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31
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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32
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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33
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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34
divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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35
jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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36
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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37
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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38
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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39
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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40
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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41
tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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42
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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43
dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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44
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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45
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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46
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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47
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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48
industriously
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49
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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50
smelting
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| n.熔炼v.熔炼，提炼（矿石）( smelt的现在分词 ) | |
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51
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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52
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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53
teaspoonful
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| n.一茶匙的量；一茶匙容量 | |
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54
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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55
purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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56
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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58
mace
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| n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮 | |
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59
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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60
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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61
stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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62
gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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63
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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64
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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65
frivolity
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| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
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66
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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67
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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68
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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69
negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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70
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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71
scantily
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| adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地 | |
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72
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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73
inaccurate
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| adj.错误的，不正确的，不准确的 | |
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74
memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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75
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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76
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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77
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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78
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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ranches
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| 大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 ) | |
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80
ranching
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| adj.放牧的 | |
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81
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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82
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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83
countenancing
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| v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的现在分词 ) | |
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84
stouter
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| 粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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85
animates
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| v.使有生气( animate的第三人称单数 )；驱动；使栩栩如生地动作；赋予…以生命 | |
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86
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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87
expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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88
corroboration
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| n.进一步的证实，进一步的证据 | |
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89
condemnatory
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| adj. 非难的，处罚的 | |
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90
mitigating
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| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的现在分词 ) | |
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91
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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92
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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93
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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94
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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95
miasmatic
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| adj.毒气的，沼气的 | |
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96
turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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97
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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98
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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99
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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100
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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101
soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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102
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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103
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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104
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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105
subscribe
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| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
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106
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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107
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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108
subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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109
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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110
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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111
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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112
fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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113
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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114
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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