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late partners； who were the last people with whom he desired to
foregather again so soon。 Then and there he made up his mind that
before he bade Barbara farewell； he would tell her the whole story； so
that she might not misjudge him。 After that he would go off somewhere
to Africa perhaps。 Meanwhile he was quite tired out； as tired as
though he had lain a week in the grip of fever。 He must eat some food
and get to bed。 Sufficient unto the day was the evil thereof； yet on
the whole he blessed the name of Jackson； editor of /The Judge/ and
his father's old friend。
When Alan had left the office Sir Robert turned to Mr。 Champers…
Haswell and asked him abruptly； 〃What the devil does this mean？〃
Mr。 Haswell looked up at the ceiling and whistled in his own peculiar
fashion； then answered：
〃I cannot say for certain； but our young friend's strange conduct
seems to suggest that he has smelt a rat； possibly even that Jackson；
the old beast； has shown him a ratof a large Turkish breed。〃
Sir Robert nodded。
〃Vernon is a fellow who doesn't like rats； they seem to haunt his
sleep；〃 he said； 〃but do you think that having seen it； he will keep
it in the bag？〃
〃Oh！ certainly； certainly；〃 answered Mr。 Haswell with cheerfulness；
〃the man is the soul of honour； he will never give us away。 Look how
he behaved about those shares。 Still； I think that perhaps we are well
rid of him。 Too much honour； like too much zeal； is a very dangerous
quality in any business。〃
〃I don't know that I agree with you；〃 answered Sir Robert。 〃I am not
sure that in the long run we should not do better for a little more of
the article。 For my part； although it will not hurt us publicly； for
the thing will never be noticed； I am sorry that we have lost Vernon；
very sorry indeed。 I don't think him a fool； and awkward as they may
be； I respect his qualities。〃
〃So do I； so do I；〃 answered Mr。 Haswell； 〃and of course we have acted
against his advice throughout； which must have been annoying to him。
The scheme as he suggested it was a fair business proposition that
might have paid ten per cent。 on a small capital； but what is the good
of ten per cent。 to you and me？ We want millions and we are going to
get them。 Well； he is coming to The Court to…morrow； and perhaps after
all we shall be able to arrange matters。 I'll give Barbara a hint； she
has great influence with him； and you might do the same； Aylward。〃
〃Miss Champers has great influence with everyone who is fortunate
enough to know her；〃 answered Sir Robert courteously。 〃But even if she
chooses to use it； I doubt if it will avail in this case。 Vernon has
been making up his mind for a long while。 I have watched him and am
sure of that。 To…night he determined to take the plunge and I do not
think that we shall see any more of him in this office。 Haswell；〃 he
added with sudden energy； 〃I tell you that of late our luck has been
too good to last。 The boom； the real boom； came in with Vernon； and
with Vernon I think that it will go。〃
〃At any rate it must leave something pretty substantial behind it this
time； Aylward； my friend。 Whatever happens； within a week we shall be
rich； really rich for life。〃
〃For life； Haswell； yes； for life。 But what is life？ A bubble that any
pin may prick。 Oh！ I know that you do not like the subject； but it is
as well to look it in the face sometimes。 I'm no church…goer； but if I
remember right we were taught to pray the good Lord to deliver us
especially 'in all times of our wealth；' which is followed by
something about tribulation and sudden death； for when they wrote that
prayer the wheel of human fortune went round just as it does to…day。
There； let's get out of this before I grow superstitious； as men who
believe in nothing sometimes do； because after all they must believe
in something； I suppose。 Got your hat and coat？ So have I； come on；〃
and he switched off the light； so that the room was left in darkness
except for the faint glimmering of the fire。
His partner grumbled audibly； for in turning he had knocked his hand
against the desk。
〃Leave me my only economy； Haswell；〃 he answered with a hard little
laugh。 〃Electricity is strength and I hate to see strength burning to
waste。 Why do you mind？〃 he went on as he stepped towards the door。
〃Is it the contrast？ In all times of our wealth； in all times of our
tribulation； from sickness and from sudden death〃
〃Good Lord deliver us；〃 chimed in Mr。 Haswell in a shaking voice
behind him。 〃What the devil's that？〃
Sir Robert looked round and saw； or thought that he saw； something
very strange。 From the pillar on which it stood the golden fetish with
a woman's face； appeared to have floated。 The firelight showed it
gliding towards them across； but a few inches above the floor of the
great room。 It came very slowly； but it came。 Now it reached them and
paused； and now it rose into the air until it attained the height of
Mr。 Champers…Haswell and stayed there； staring into his face and not a
hand's breadth away； just as though it were a real woman glaring at
him。
He uttered a sound； half whistle and half groan； and fell back； as it
chanced on to a morocco…covered seat behind him。 For a moment or two
the gleaming； golden mask floated in the air。 Then it turned very
deliberately； rose a little way； and moving sidelong to where Sir
Robert stood； hung in front of /his/ face。
Presently Aylward staggered to the mantelpiece and began to fumble for
the switch； in the silence his nails scratching at the panelling made
a sound like to that of a gnawing mouse。 He found it at last； and next
instant the office broke into a blaze of light； showing Mr。 Haswell；
his rubicund face quite pale； his hat and umbrella on the floor；
gasping like a dying man upon the couch； and Sir Robert himself
clinging to the mantel…shelf as a person might do who had received a
mortal wound； while the golden fetish reposed calmly on its pillar； to
all appearance as immovable and undisturbed as the antique Venus which
matched it at the other end of the room。 For a while there was
silence。 Then Sir Robert； recovering himself； asked：
〃Did you notice anything unusual just now； Haswell？〃
〃Yes；〃 whispered his partner。 〃I thought that hideous African thing
which Vernon brought here； came sliding across the floor and stared
into my face with its glittering eyes； and in the eyes〃
〃Well； what was in the eyes？〃
〃I can't remember。 It was a kind of picture and the meaning of it was
Sudden Deathoh Lord！ Sudden Death。 Tell me it was a fancy bred of
that ill…omened talk of yours？〃
〃I can't tell you anything of the sort；〃 answered Aylward in a hollow
voice； 〃for I saw something also。〃
〃What？〃 asked his partner。
〃Death that wasn't sudden； and other things。〃
Again the silence fell till it was broken by Aylward。
〃Come；〃 he said； 〃we have been over…workingtoo much strain； and now
the reaction。 Keep this rubbish to yourself； or they will lock you up
in an asylum。〃
〃Certainly； Aylward； certainly。 But can't you get rid of that beastly
image？〃
〃Not on any account； Haswell； even if it haunts us all day。 Here it
shall stop until the Saharas are floated on