Part 55 (1/2)

”Alas!” he said, ”your manager was a very obstinate person.”

”And my clerk?”

”Incorruptible, absolutely incorruptible. I congratulate you, De Grost.

Your society is one of the most wonderful upon the face of this earth. I know little about it, but my admiration is very sincere. Their attention to details, and the personnel of their staff, is almost perfect. I may tell you at once that no sum that could be offered, tempted either of these men.”

”I am delighted to hear it,” De Grost replied, ”but I must plead guilty to a little temporary anxiety as to their present whereabouts.”

”At this moment,” Bernadine remarked, ”they are within a few feet of us, but, as you are doubtless aware, access to your delightful river is obtainable from these premises. To be frank with you, my dear Baron, we are waiting for the tide to rise.”

”So thoughtful about these trifles,” De Grost murmured. ”But their present position? They are, I trust, not uncomfortable?”

Bernadine stood up and moved to the further end of the office. He beckoned his companion to his side and, drawing an electric torch from his pocket, flashed the light into a dark corner behind an immense bin. The forms of a man and a youth, bound with ropes and gagged, lay stretched upon the floor. De Grost sighed.

”I am afraid,” he said, ”that Mr. Greening, at any rate, is most uncomfortable.”

Bernadine turned off the light.

”At least, Baron,” he declared, ”if such extreme measures should become necessary, I can promise you one thing--you shall have a quicker pa.s.sage into Eternity than they.”

De Grost resumed his seat.

”Has it really come to that?” he asked. ”Will nothing but so crude a proceeding as my absolute removal satisfy you?”

”Nothing else is, I fear, practicable,” Bernadine replied, ”unless you decide to listen to reason. Believe me, my dear friend, I shall miss you and our small encounters exceedingly, but, unfortunately, you stand in the way of my career. You are the only man who has persistently balked me. You have driven me to use against you means which I had grown to look upon as absolutely extinct in the upper circles of our profession.”

De Grost peered through the gla.s.s walls of the office.

”Eight men, not counting yourself,” he remarked, ”and my poor manager and his faithful clerk lying bound and helpless. It is heavy odds, Bernadine.”

”There is no question of odds, I think,” Bernadine answered smoothly.

”You are much too clever a person to refuse to admit that you are entirely in my power.”

”And as regards terms? I really don't feel in the least anxious to make my final bow with so little notice,” De Grost said. ”To tell you the truth, I have been finding life quite interesting lately.”

Bernadine eyed his prisoner keenly. Such absolute composure was in itself disturbing. He was, for the moment, aware of a slight sensation of uneasiness, which his common sense, however, speedily disposed of.

”There are two ways,” he announced, ”of dealing with an opponent.

There is the old-fas.h.i.+oned one--crude, but in a sense eminently satisfactory--which sends him finally to adorn some other sphere.”

”I don't like that one,” De Grost interrupted. ”Get on with the alternative.”

”The alternative,” Bernadine declared, ”is when his capacity for harm can be destroyed.”

”That needs a little explanation,” De Grost murmured.

”Precisely. For instance, if you were to become absolutely discredited, I think that you would be effectually out of my way. Your people do not forgive.”

”Then discredit me, by all means,” De Grost begged. ”It sounds unpleasant, but I do not like your callous reference to the river.”