Part 18 (1/2)

”And my name shall not appear in the matter?”

”No--no,” Pateley said, in spite of himself breathlessly and hurriedly, more excited than he wished to show. Sir William paused and looked towards the window. ”All right,” said Pateley, ”you have time. Quick!

What is it?”

”There is going,” Sir William said, ”I am almost certain, to be an understanding, an agreement between England and Germany about this business in Africa.”

”Impossible!” said Pateley.

”Yes,” said Sir William, hardly audibly.

”Give me the proof,” Pateley said, coming close to him and in his excitement making a movement as though to take the paper out of Gore's hand.

”Wait, wait!” Sir William said. ”No, you mustn't do that!” and he staggered and leant back against the chimneypiece. Pateley had no time to waste in sympathy.

”Look here, if you don't give it to me, show me what it is.”

”Yes, yes, I will show it you,” Sir William said, ”only you are not to take it, you are not to touch it.”

Pateley signed a.s.sent, and Sir William unfolded the map of Africa and held it up with a trembling hand.

”What!” said Pateley, at first hardly grasping what he saw. Then its full significance began to dawn upon him. ”Africa--a part.i.tion of Africa between Germany and England! Do you mean to say that is it?”

”Yes,” Sir William said. ”But for Heaven's sake don't touch it, don't take it out of my hand,” he said again, nervously conscious that his own strength was ebbing at every moment, and that if the resolute, dominant figure before him had chosen to seize on the paper, nothing could have prevented his doing so.

”Well, at any rate, let me have a good look at it,” Pateley said, ”the coast is still clear,” and as he went to the window to give another look out, he took something out of his breast pocket. ”Now then,” he said, turning back to Sir William, ”hold it up in the light so that I can have a good look at it;” and as Sir William held it in the light of the window, Pateley, as quick as lightning, drew his tiny camera out of his pocket. There was a click, and the map of Africa had been photographed.

Pateley unconsciously drew a quick breath of relief as he put the machine back. Sir William, as white as a sheet, dropped his hands in dismay.

”Good Heavens! What have you done? Have you photographed it?”

”Yes,” said Pateley, trying to control his own excitement, and recovering his usual tone with an effort. ”That's all, thank you. It is much the simplest form of ill.u.s.tration.”

”Ill.u.s.tration! What are you going to do with it?” Sir William said, aghast.

”That depends,” said Pateley. ”I must see how and when I can use it to the best advantage.”

”You have sworn,” Sir William said tremulously, ”that you won't say where you got it from.”

”Of course I won't,” Pateley said, gradually returning to his usual burly heartiness. ”Now, may I ask where _you_ got it from?”

”I got it out of there,” Sir William said, pointing to the table. ”A corner of it was sticking out.”

”Might I suggest that you should put it back again?” said Pateley.

”Good Heavens, yes!” said Gore. ”I had forgotten.” And he nervously folded it up and dropped it through the slit of the table.

”Ha, that's safer,” said Pateley, with a short laugh. ”You should not lose your head over these things,” and he gave a swift look down the street again. ”Now I must go. I am going straight to the City, and I'll tell you what I shall do,” and his manner became more emphatic as he went on, as though answering some objection. ”I'm going to buy up the whole of the 'Equator' shares on the chance of a rise, and perhaps some Cape to Cairo too, and then we'll see. Now, can't I do something for you too? Won't you buy something on the chance of a rise?”

Sir William had sunk into a chair. He shook his head.

”I am too tired to think,” he said. ”I don't know.”