登陆注册
15460200000101

第101章 CHAPTER XXI(3)

"By the way," it occurred to Thorpe to mention, "here's something I didn't understand. I told Rostocker here, just as a cheeky kind of joke, that after he and Aronson had got their eight thousand five hundred, if they thought they'd like still more shares, I'd let 'em have 'em at a bargain--and he seemed to take it seriously.

He did for a fact. Said perhaps he could make a deal with me.""Hm-m!" said Semple, reflectively. "I'll see if he says anything to me. Very likely he's spotted some way of taking the thing over, and reorganizing it, and giving it another run over the course. I'll think it out.

And now I must be off. Aren't you lunching?""No--I'll have the boy bring in some sandwiches,"Thorpe decided. "I want my next meal west of Temple Bar when I get round to it. I've soured on the City for keeps.""I wouldn't say that it had been so bad to you, either,"Semple smilingly suggested, as he turned to the door.

Thorpe grinned in satisfied comment. "Hurry back as soon as you've finally settled with Rostocker and the other fellow,"he called after him, and began pacing the floor again.

It was nearly four o'clock when these two men, again together in the Board Room, and having finished the inspection of some papers on the desk, sat upright and looked at each other in tacit recognition that final words were to be spoken.

"Well, Semple," Thorpe began, after that significant little pause, "I want to say that I'm damned glad you've done so well for yourself in this affair.

You've been as straight as a die to me,--I owe it as much to you as I do to myself,--and if you don't think you've got enough even now, I want you to say so."He had spoken in tones of sincere liking, and the other answered him in kind. "I have more than I ever dreamed of making in a lifetime when I came to London,"he declared. "If my father were alive, and heard me tell him that in one year, out of a single transaction, I had cleared over sixty-five thousand pounds, he'd be fit to doubt the existence of a Supreme Being.

I'm obliged to you for your good words, Thorpe. It's not only been profitable to work with you, but it has been a great education and a great pleasure as well."Thorpe nodded his appreciation. "I'm going to ask a favour of you," he said. "I want to leave the general run of my investments and interests here in your hands, to keep track of I don't want to speculate at all, in the ordinary meaning of the word. Even after I bury a pot of money in non-productive real estate, I shall have an income of 50,000 pounds at the very least, and perhaps twice as much. There's no fun in gambling when you've got such a bank as that behind you. But if there are good, wise changes to be made in investments, or if things turn up in the way of chances that I ought to know about, I want to feel that you're on the spot watching things and doing things in my interest.

And as it won't be regular broker's work, I shall want to pay you a stated sum--whatever you think is right.""That will arrange itself easily enough," said Semple.

"I shall have the greatest pleasure in caring for whatever you put in my hands. And I think I can promise that it will be none the worse for the keeping.""I don't need any assurance on that score,"

Thorpe declared, cordially. "You're the one sterling, honest man I've known in the City."It was the Broker's turn to make a little acknowledging bow.

His eyes gleamed frank satisfaction at being so well understood.

"I think I see the way that more money can be made out of the Company," he said, abruptly changing the subject.

"I've had but a few words with Rostocker about it--but it's clear to me that he has a plan. He will be coming to you with a proposition.""Well, he won't find me, then," interposed Thorpe, with a comfortable smile. "I leave all that to you.""I suspect that his plan," continued Semple, "is to make a sub-rosa offer of a few shillings for the majority of the shares, and reconstitute the Board, and then form another Company to buy the property and good-will of the old one at a handsome price. Now if that would be a good thing for him to do, it would be a good thing for me to do.

I shall go over it all carefully, in detail, this evening.

And I suppose, if I see my way clear before me, than Imay rely upon your good feeling in the matter. I would do all the work and assume all the risk, and, let us say, divide any profits equally--you in turn giving me a free hand with all your shares, and your influence with the Directors.""I'll do better still," Thorpe told him, upon brief reflection.

"Reconstitute the Board and make Lord Plowden Chairman,--Idon't imagine the Marquis would have the nerve to go on with it,--and I'll make a free gift of my shares to you two--half and half. You'll find him all right to work with,--if you can only get him up in the morning,--and I've kind o' promised him something of the sort.

Does that suit you?" Semple's countenance was thoughtful rather than enthusiastic. "I'm more skeptical about Lords than you are," he observed, "but if he's amenable, and understands that his part is to do what I tell him to do, I've no doubt we shall hit it off together.""Oh, absolutely!" said Thorpe, with confidence.

"I'll see to it that he behaves like a lamb. You're to have an absolutely free hand. You're to do what you like,--wind the Company up, or sell it out, or rig it up under a new name and catch a new set of gudgeons with it,--whatever you damned please. When I trust a man, I trust him."The two friends, their faces brightened and their voices mellowed by this serene consciousness of their mutual trust in each other's loyalty and integrity, dwelt no further upon these halcyon beginnings of a fresh plan for plundering the public. They spoke instead on personal topics--of the possibility of Semple's coming to Scotland during the autumn, and of the chance of Thorpe's wintering abroad.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 狂傲之魂

    狂傲之魂

    黑与白,光和影,两个拥有完全对立属性的少年在命运的安排下结为生死兄弟。一个狂、一个傲,相伴而行,在这个斗气、魔法、武魂和科技并存,人族、神魔、兽人和亡灵纷争不断的世界上跌打滚爬。尽管受了伤,尽管流了泪,狂傲之魂,不曾破灭!
  • 武士降临

    武士降临

    1000年前,在这世界上,有着一群强大至极的人类,这些人类称他们为武士,他们只凭一剑一刀闯天下,遇魔杀魔,遇妖斩妖,势不可挡也无人可挡。最低级的武士,也可以一挑百,就算是国家训练出来的那特别精锐也是一样,在他们的面前却是不堪一击。而就是这么强大的一群人,却是人间蒸发了,消失在了人类的眼前。2016年!最新作品武士降临!
  • 三年的回暮

    三年的回暮

    本作品又名《三年不久》。三年,漫漫岁月,足以改变很多事物但在有情人的眼中这足足三年真的不久。
  • EXO之命运变换

    EXO之命运变换

    一次意外……改变了我的命运。让我遇见了命中注定的人……
  • 她是他们的挚爱

    她是他们的挚爱

    直到离开你们,我才发现,没有了你们,我就成了一个没有灵魂的行尸走肉。。——题记一个是洛陌爸爸看好的婚姻对象王俊凯,一个是钟情于她的王源,一个是青梅竹马易烊千玺,面对这三位少年,她应该何去何从?又情归何处呢?前录:王俊凯:洛洛,只要有我在,我不会让别人动你一分一毫。王源:陌儿,自从见了你,我的心就注定只能装得下你一个。易烊千玺:小洛,我想,我对你的感情,不再是那么简单了。
  • 纯情在校园

    纯情在校园

    之前强者决,之后风云起。人类的崛起?人类的堕落?普通的生命,不同的人生。双胞胎兄妹,默默校园中。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 合租恋人:腹黑校草恋上笨丫头

    合租恋人:腹黑校草恋上笨丫头

    新书上市:《腹黑校草恋上笨丫头》他在帝都圣校那可是风云人物,长得迷人帅气,学习成绩优异,那可是迷倒了底下万千的少女,个个都为他心动。当他和一个女孩相遇时,不知不觉的走进了他的生命,这个女孩正是沫雨晴。
  • 第一次就把事情做对

    第一次就把事情做对

    本书内容丰富、全面、告诉你如何避免错误,第一次就把事情做对。在创建节约型的社会里,第一次就把事情做对,意味着付出的时间最少,节省的成本最多,取得的效果最好。本书分为上、中、下三篇,分别从:高效率,要求第一次就把事情做对;世上无后悔药,第一次就赢得结果;这样做,才能第一次就把事情做对三方面着手,告诉人们如何第一次就把事情做对。
  • 领主的黄昏

    领主的黄昏

    波澜壮阔的迷之大陆上是四个王国之间的血腥博弈,初来乍到的阿拉斯加发现自己被骑士之国的国王哥哥抛弃在北部的大荒原。于此之时,一个英雄的舞台就这样拉开序幕。提示:主角拥有系统但不是毫无逻辑的逆天,只是有所帮助。