Phipps."
"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.
"Quite a fallacy, Wingate," he pronounced. "Phipps, as a matter of fact,
is offering you considerably more than the shares are worth, because with
their help he means to bring off a big thing."
"If he relies upon my shares," was the indifferent reply, "I am afraid
the big thing won't come off."
"You won't sell, then?"
"No!"
Lord Dredlinton glanced for a moment at his finger nails. He seemed
wrapped in abstract thought.
"I wonder if I could induce you to change your mind," he said.
"I am quite sure that you could not."
"Still, I am going to try. You are a great admirer of my wife, I believe,
Mr. Wingate?"
Wingate frowned slightly.
"I prefer not to discuss Lady Dredlinton with you," he said curtly.
"Still, you won't mind going so far as to say that you are an admirer of
hers?" the latter persisted.
"Well?"
"You are probably her confidant in the unfortunate differences which have
arisen between us?"
"If I were, I should not consider it my business to inform you.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149