Part 37 (1/2)
”Never mind. It's true, isn't it?”
”Yes,” the Englishman admitted gravely--”it's true. It lies at Bannon's door, when all's said.... Perhaps you won't believe me, but it's a fact I didn't know positively who was responsible till to-night.”
”You don't really expect me to swallow that? You were hand-in-glove--”
”Ah, but on probation only! When they voted Roddy out, I wasn't consulted. They kept me in the dark--mostly, I flatter myself, because I draw the line at murder. If I had known--this you won't believe, of course--Roddy would be alive to-day.”
”I'd like to believe you,” Lanyard admitted. ”But when you ask me to sign articles with that d.a.m.ned a.s.sa.s.sin--!”
”You can't play our game with clean hands,” Wertheimer retorted.
Lanyard found no answer to that.
”If you've said all you wished to,” he suggested, rising, ”I can a.s.sure you my answer is final--and go about my business.”
”What's your hurry? Sit down. There's more to say--much more.”
”As for instance--?”
”I had a fancy you might like to put a question or two.”
Lanyard shook his head; it was plain that Wertheimer designed to draw him out through his interest in Lucy Shannon.
”I haven't the slightest curiosity concerning your affairs,” he observed.
”But you should have; I could tell you a great many interesting things that intimately affect your affairs, if I liked. You must understand that I shall hold the balance of power here, from now on.”
”Congratulations!” Lanyard laughed derisively.
”No joke, my dear chap: I've been promoted over the heads of your friends, De Morbihan and Popinot, and shall henceforth be--as they say in America--the whole works.”
”By what warrant?”
”The ill.u.s.trious Bannon's. I've been appointed his lieutenant--vice Greggs, deposed for bungling.”
”Do you mean to tell me Bannon controls De Morbihan and Popinot?”
The Englishman smiled indulgently. ”If you didn't know it, he's commander-in-chief of our allied forces, presiding genius of the International Underworld Unlimited.”
”Bos.h.!.+” cried Lanyard contemptuously. ”Why talk to me as if I were a child, to be frightened by a bogey-tale like that?”
”Take it or leave it: the fact remains.... I know, if you don't. I confess I didn't till to-night; but I've learned some things that have opened my eyes.... You see, we had a table in a quiet corner of the Cafe de la Paix, and since the Old Man's sailing for home before long it was time for him to unbosom rather thoroughly to the man he leaves to represent him in London and Paris. I never suspected our power before he began to talk....”
Lanyard, watching the man closely, would have sworn he had never seen one more sober. He was indescribably perplexed by this ostensible candour--mystified and mistrustful.
”And then there's this to be considered, from your side,” Wertheimer resumed with the most business-like manner: ”you can work with us without being obliged to deal in any way with the Old Man or De Morbihan, or Popinot. Bannon will never cross the Atlantic again, and you can do pretty much as you like, within reason--subject to my approval, that is.”
”One of us is mad,” Lanyard commented profoundly.
”One of us is blind to his best interests,” Wertheimer amended with entire good-humour.