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impassive and expressionless。
The door opened and a clerk entered； an imposing…looking clerk with
iron…grey hair； who wore an irreproachable frock coat and patent
leather boots。 Advancing to his master； he stood respectfully silent；
waiting to be addressed。 For quite a long while Sir Robert looked over
his head as though he did not see him； it was a way of his。 Then his
eyes rested on the man dreamily and he remarked in his cold； clear
voice：
〃I don't think I rang； Jeffreys。〃
〃No； Sir Robert；〃 answered the clerk； bowing as though he spoke to
Royalty； 〃but there is a little matter about that article in /The
Cynic/。〃
〃Press business；〃 said Sir Robert； lifting his eyebrows； 〃you should
know by this time that I do not attend to such details。 See Mr。
Champers…Haswell； or Major Vernon。〃
〃They are both out at the moment； Sir Robert。〃
〃Go on； then； Jeffreys；〃 replied the head of the firm with a resigned
sigh； 〃only be brief。 I am thinking。〃
The clerk bowed again。
〃The /Cynic/ people have just telephoned through about that article we
sent them。 I think you saw it； sir； and you may remember it
begins〃 and he read from a typewritten copy in his hand which was
headed 〃Sahara Limited〃：
〃'We are now privileged to announce that this mighty scheme which will
turn a desert into a rolling sea bearing the commerce of nations and
cause the waste places of the earth to teem with population and to
blossom like the rose； has been completed in its necessary if dull
financial details and will within a few days be submitted to investors
among whom it has already caused so much excitement。 These details we
will deal with fully in succeeding articles； and therefore now need
only pause to say that the basis of capitalization strikes us as
wonderfully advantageous to the fortunate public who are asked to
participate in its vast prospective prosperity。 Our present object is
to speak of its national and imperial aspects'〃
Sir Robert lifted his eyes in remonstrance：
〃How much more of that exceedingly dull and commonplace puff do you
propose to read； Jeffreys？〃 he asked。
〃No more； Sir Robert。 We are paying /The Cynic/ thirty guineas to
insert this article； and the point is that they say that if they have
to put in the 'national and imperial' business they must have twenty
more。〃
〃Indeed； Jeffreys？ Why？〃
〃Because； Sir RobertI will tell you； as you always like to hear the
truththeir advertisement…editor is of opinion that Sahara Limited is
a national and imperial swindle。 He says that he won't drag the nation
and the empire into it in an editorial under fifty guineas。〃
A faint smile flickered on Sir Robert's face。
〃Does he； indeed？〃 he asked。 〃I wonder at his moderation。 Had I been
in his place I should have asked more； for really the style is a
little flamboyant。 Well； we don't want to quarrel with them just now
feed the sharks。 But surely； Jeffreys； you didn't come to disturb me
about such a trifle？〃
〃Not altogether； Sir Robert。 There is something more important。 /The
Daily Judge/ not only declines to put any article whatsoever； but
refuses our advertisement； and states that it means to criticize the
prospectus trenchantly。〃
〃Ah！〃 said his master after a moment's thought； 〃that /is/ rather
serious； since people believe in the /Judge/ even when it is wrong。
Offer them the advertisement at treble rates。〃
〃It has been done； sir； and they still refuse。〃
Sir Robert walked to the corner of the room where the yellow object
squatted on its pedestal； and contemplated it a while； as a man often
studies one thing when he is thinking of another。 It seemed to give
him an idea； for he looked over his shoulder and said：
〃That will do； Jeffreys。 When Major Vernon comes in； give him my
compliments and say that I should be obliged by a word or two with
him。〃
The clerk bowed and went as noiselessly as he had entered。
〃Let's see；〃 added Sir Robert to himself。 〃Old Jackson； the editor of
/The Judge/； was a great friend of Vernon's father； the late Sir
William Vernon； G。C。B。 I believe that he was engaged to be married to
his sister years ago； only she died or something。 So the Major ought
to be able to get round him if anybody can。 Only the worst of it is I
don't altogether trust that young gentleman。 It suited us to give him
a share in the business because he is an engineer who knows the
country； and this Sahara scheme was his notion； a very good one in a
way； and for other reasons。 Now he shows signs of kicking over the
traces； wants to know too much； is developing a conscience； and so
forth。 As though the promoters of speculative companies had any
business with consciences。 Ah！ here he comes。〃
Sir Robert seated himself at his desk and resumed his calculations
upon a half…sheet of note…paper； and that moment a clear； hearty voice
was heard speaking to the clerks in the outer office。 Then came the
sound of a strong； firm footstep； the door opened and Major Alan
Vernon appeared。
He was still quite a young man； not more than thirty…two or three
years of age； though he lacked the ultra robust and rubicund
appearance which is typical of so many Englishmen of his class at this
period of life。 A heavy bout of blackwater fever acquired on service
in West Africa； which would have killed anyone of weaker constitution；
had robbed his face of its bloom and left it much sallower； if more
interesting than once it had been。 For in a way there was interest
about the face； also a certain charm。 It was a good and honest face
with a rather eager； rather puzzled look； that of a man who has
imagination and ideas and who searches for the truth but fails to find
it。 As for the charm； it lay for the most part in the pleasant； open
smile and in the frank but rather round brown eyes overhung by a
somewhat massive forehead which projected a little； or perhaps the
severe illness already alluded to had caused the rest of the face to
sink。 Though thin； the man was bigly built； with broad shoulders and
well…developed limbs； measuring a trifle under six feet in height。
Such was the outward appearance of Alan Vernon。 As for his mind； it
was able enough in certain fashions； for instance those of
engineering； and the soldier…like faculties to which it had been
trained； frank and kindly also； but in other respects not quick；
perhaps from its unsuspiciousness。 Alan Vernon was a man slow to
discover ill and slower still to believe in it even when it seemed to
be discovered； a weakness that may have gone far to account for his
presence in the office of those eminent and brilliant financiers；
Messrs。 Aylward & Champers…Haswell。 Just now he looked a little
worried； like a fish out of water； or rather a fish which has begun to
suspect the quality of the water； something in its smell or taste。
〃Jeffreys tells me that you want to see me； Sir Robert；〃 he said in
his low and pleasant voice； looking at the baronet rather anxiously。
〃Yes； my dear Vernon； I wish to ask you to do something； if you kindly
will； although it is not quite in your line。 Old Jackson； the editor
of /The Judge/； is a friend of yours； isn't he？〃
〃He was a friend of my father's； and I us