第76章 CHAPTER XVI(5)

"Naturally I consult your convenience--and the proprieties, "he said, with an effect of proud humility. "There are but a few other facts to submit. My nephew has already paid, in differences upon those accursed two thousand shares, a sum of nearly 30,000 pounds. I have the figures in my pocket--but they are fixed in my head as well.

Twenty-eight thousand five hundred, those differences already amount to, not to speak of interest.

At the last settlement, August 1st, the price per share was 15 pounds. That would make 30,000 pounds more, if we bought now--or a total of practically 60,000 pounds.

Eh bien! I beg for the privilege of being allowed to buy these shares now. It is an unpleasant confession to make, but the firm of Fromentin Freres will be made very poor by this loss of 60,000 pounds. It was not always so, but it is so now. My nephew Robert has brought it into that condition. You see my shame at this admission.

With all my own means, and with his sister's marriage portion, we can make up this sum of 30,000 pounds, and still enable the firm to remain in existence. I have gone over the books very painstakingly, since I arrived in London.

It can be kept afloat, and it can be brought back to safe and moderately profitable courses--if nothing worse happens. With another six weeks like the last, this will not be at all possible. We shall have the cup of dishonour thrust between our teeth. That will be the end of everything."M. Fromentin finished in tremulous, grave tones.

After looking with blurred eyes for a moment into Thorpe's face, he bowed his head, and softly swayed the knees upon which his thin, dark hands maintained their clutch.

Not even the revelation of hair quite white at the roots, unduly widening the track of parting on the top of his dyed head, could rob this movement of its mournful dignity.

Thorpe, after a moment's pause, took a pencil and paper from the desk, and made a calculation. He bit his lips and frowned at the sight of these figures, and set down some others, which seemed to please him no more.

Then, with a sudden gesture as of impatience, he rose to his feet.

"How much is that sister's marriage portion you spoke of?"he asked, rather brusquely.

The French gentleman had also risen. He looked with an air of astonishment at his questioner, and then hardened his face.

"I apologize for mentioning it," he said, with brevity.

"One does not speak of family affairs."

"I asked you how much it was," pursued Thorpe, in a masterful tone.

"A man doesn't want to rob a girl of her marriage portion.""I think I must not answer you," the other replied, hesitatingly. "It was the fault of my emotion to introduce the subject. Pray leave the young lady out of account.""Then I've nothing more to say," Thorpe declared, and seated himself again with superfluous energy.

He scowled for a little at the disorder of his desk, and then flung forth an angry explanation. "If you evade fair questions like that, how can you expect that I will go out of my way to help you?""Oh, permit me, Mr. Thorpe"--the Marquis intervened soothingly--"I think you misapprehend. My friend, I am sure, wished to evade nothing. He had the idea that he was at fault in--in alluding to a purely domestic matter as--as a--what shall I say?--as a plea for your consideration." He turned to the old banker.

"You will not refuse to mention the sum to me, will you, my friend?"M. Fromentin shrugged his shoulders. "It is ten thousand pounds," he replied, almost curtly.

Thorpe was seemingly mollified. "Very well, then," he said.

"I will sell you 2,000 shares at ten pounds."The others exchanged a wondering look.

"Monsieur," the banker stammered--"I see your meaning.

You will forgive me--it is very well meant indeed by you--but it was not my proposition. The market-price is fifteen pounds--and we were prepared to pay it."Thorpe laughed in a peremptory, gusty way. "But you can't pay more than I ask!" he told him, with rough geniality.

"Come, if I let you and your nephew in out of the cold, what kind of men-folk would you be to insist that your niece should be left outside? As I said, I don't want her money.

I don't want any woman's money. If I'm going to be nice to the rest of the family, what's the objection to my being nice to her?""Monsieur," said the Frenchman, after an instant's reflection, "I offer none. I did not at the moment perceive the spirit of your words, but I recognize now that it was delicacy itself.

I tender you the most profound thanks--for ALL the family."After some further conversation the elder Fromentin took his departure. Lord Chaldon apparently proposed to accompany him, but Thorpe begged him to remain, and he put aside his hat once more and resumed his seat.

Thorpe walked about a little, with his hands in his pockets, in a restless way. "If it isn't unpleasant to you, I think I'll light a cigar," he said suddenly, and moved over to the cabinet. He poured out a drink of neat brandy, as well, and furtively swallowed it. Then he came back, preceded by a cloud of smoke.

"It went terribly against the grain," he said, with a rueful laugh. "I'd sworn to let no Jew off with an inch of hide left on him--and here three of them have been wheedled out of my grip already.""Jews?" exclaimed the Marquis, much puzzled.

"Did you--did you think Fromentin was a Jew? God bless me! he's no more one than I am! Why, not even so much, for there IS a Herschell in my pedigree. Why, dear man, they were Crusaders!"Thorpe smiled somewhat sheepishly. "I never noticed much,"he said. "It was a foreign-looking name. I took it for granted."Lord Chaldon bent his brows a little. "Yes-s"--he murmured, meditatively. "I've heard it mentioned that your enterprise was suspected of an anti-Semitic twist.

Do you mind my talking a little with you about that?""Oh, not at all," the other answered with languid acquiescence, as he seated himself.