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〃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； where I was born； to
take a farm there。 No more of Messrs。 Aylward and Haswell for Thomas
Jeffreys。 That's my bell。 Good…bye； Major； I'll take the liberty to
write you a line sometimes； for I know you won't give me away。 Good…
bye and God bless you； as I am sure He will in the long run；〃 and
stretching out his hand； he took that of the astonished Alan and wrung
it warmly。
When he was gone Alan went also； noticing that the clerks； whom some
rumour of these events seemed to have reached； eyed him curiously
through the glass screens behind which they sat at their desks； as he
thought not without regret and a kind of admiration。 Even the
magnificent be…medalled porter at the door emerged from the carved
teak box where he dwelt and touching his cap asked if he should call a
cab。
〃No； thank you； Sergeant；〃 answered Alan； 〃I will take a bus； and；
Sergeant； I think I forgot to give you a present last Xmas。 Will you
accept this？I wish I could make it more；〃 and he presented him with
ten shillings。
The Sergeant drew himself up and saluted。
〃Thank you kindly； Major；〃 he said。 〃I'd rather take that from you
than ￡10 from the other gentlemen。 But； Major； I wish we were out on
the West Coast again together。 It's a stinking； barbarous hole； but
not so bad as this 'ere city。〃
For once these two had served as comrades； and it was through Alan
that the sergeant obtained his present lucrative but somewhat
uncongenial post。
He was outside at last。 The massive granite portal vanished behind him
in the evening mists； much as a nightmare vanishes。 He； Alan Vernon；
who for a year or more had been in bondage； was a free man again。 All
his dreams of wealth had departed； indeed if anything； save in
experience； he was poorer than when first the shadow of yonder doorway
fell upon him。 But at least he was safe； safe。 The deed of partnership
which had been as a chain about his neck； was now white ashes； his
name was erased from that fearful prospectus of Sahara Limited；
wherein millions which someone would provide were spoken of like
silver in the days of Solomon； as things of no account。 The bitterest
critic could not say that he had made a halfpenny out of the venture；
in fact； if trouble came； his voluntary abandonment of the profits due
to him must go to his credit。 He had plunged into the icy waters of
renunciation and come up clean if naked。 Never since he was a boy
could Alan remember feeling so utterly light…hearted and free from
anxiety。 Not for a million pounds would he have returned to gather
gold in that mausoleum of reputations。 As for the future； he did not
in the least care what happened。 There was no one dependent on him；
and in this way or in that he could always earn a crust； a nice；
honest crust。
He ran down the street and danced for joy like a child； yes； and
presented a crossing…sweeper against whom he butted with a whole
sixpence in compensation。 Thus he reached the Mansion House； not
unsuspected of inebriety by the police； and clambered to the top of a
bus crowded with weary and anxious…looking City clerks returning home
after a long day's labour at starvation wage。 In that cold company and
a chilling atmosphere some of his enthusiasm evaporated。 He remembered
that this step of his meant that sooner or later； within a year or two
at most； Yarleys； where his family had dwelt for centuries； must go to
the hammer。 Why had he not accepted Aylward's offer and sold that old
fetish to him for ￡17；000？ There was no question of share…dealing
there； and if a very wealthy man chose to give a fancy price for a
curiosity； he could take it without doubt or shame。 At least it would
have sufficed to save Yarleys； which after all was only mortgaged for
￡20；000。 For the life of him he could not tell。 He had acted on
impulse； a very curious impulse； and there was an end of it perhaps；
it might be because his uncle had told him as a boy that the thing was
unique； or perhaps because old Jeekie； his negro servant； venerated it
so much and swore that it was 〃lucky。〃 At any rate he had declined and
there was an end。
But another and a graver matter remained。 He had desired wealth to
save Yarleys； but he desired it still more for a different purpose。
Above everything on earth he loved Barbara； his distant cousin and the
niece of Mr。 Champers…Haswell； who until an hour ago had been his
partner。 Now she was a great heiress； and without fortune he could not
marry her； even if she would marry him； which remained in doubt。 For
one thing her uncle and guardian Haswell； under her father's will； had
absolute discretion in this matter until she reached the age of
twenty…five； and for another he was too proud。 Therefore it would seem
that in abandoning his business； he had abandoned his chance of
Barbara also； which was a truly dreadful thought。
Well； it was in order that he might see her； that he had agreed to
visit The Court on the morrow； even though it meant a meeting with his
late partners； who were the last people with whom he desired to
foregather again so soon。 Then