Part 55 (1/2)
”He did. I might retort that you have seen my colleagues and tried to gain them over, in my absence, instead of waiting for my return; but that is not an important matter. What is it you wish to know?”
Andrew's voice was quietly steady as he asked the test question upon which their future relations turned:
”Do you mean to submit the report to the Rain Bluff shareholders as it stands?”
”Yes,” Leonard answered curtly, and Andrew knew that there could be no compromise. It was now a trial of strength; one of them must be driven off the field.
”Knowing it to be misleading?” he said. ”Very well; I can't prevent its issue. I suppose you have heard that your confederate has been beaten in what must be his last attempt to thwart me?”
”I heard that an attempt had been made to jump the Company's claims.”
”My claims,” said Andrew.
”The Company's, I think. You were our representative when you found them.”
”We'll let that go; it's not a point that's likely to be raised.”
As the question of the owners.h.i.+p of the claims seemed to be of importance, Leonard looked puzzled.
”Oh, well,” he said, ”I've told you that, if needful, Mappin must be sacrificed.”
”That is not what you told him. You must have meant to trick one of us or play false to both.”
”I can't tolerate such words!”
Leonard lost the indulgent air he had so far a.s.sumed, and Andrew, leaning forward with elbows on the table, fixed his eyes on him.
”We'll drop all disguises. You have plotted against me ever since I went to Canada, and I'm showing you more consideration than you deserve in speaking of these things in private instead of before the family. It is for Florence's sake I'm doing so.” He raised his hand.
”Let me finis.h.!.+ You would have ruined the Rain Bluff Company sooner than allow me to reorganize it; you conspired with Mappin to starve me and my friends to death.”
Leonard sat back in his chair with a harsh laugh.
”That is ridiculous! If we are to talk the matter out, try to be calm.
I'll admit that I would have been glad to prevent your wasting the Company's time and money on an absurd adventure, and gave Mappin a hint to that effect. If he went farther, for his own ends, I'm not responsible.”
”I'd like to believe that you speak the truth. Apart from this, you have persuaded the directors that my suggestions are not to be considered seriously and what's worse, you have from the beginning prejudiced my relatives against me. It's your doing that they think me a fool.”
A smile crept into Leonard's eyes.
”It looks as if you mean to force a quarrel,” he said.
”In a sense, you're right. We can't go on as we have been doing.”
”Very well. What do you suggest?”
”In the first place, I ask for your resignation from the Rain Bluff Board. That shouldn't be difficult; you have been selling your shares.”
Leonard considered for a minute.
”I might agree. Three of the directors must retire, and the Company isn't likely to prosper if you get control.”