It’s all right. I’ve got him.
Etchingham.
Thank God.
O’Donnell.
I told him to hurry up. He was just going to speak to some fellows in a factory.
Swalecliffe.
He’s coming?
O’Donnell.
Yes, rather. He said he’d be here in a jiffy.
James Ford.
Did he want to know what it was about?
O’Donnell.
There was no time for him to ask. And he was talking to a whole crowd when I found him.
Swalecliffe.
He knows it’s important?
Bennett.
Don’t be afraid about that. If he says he’ll come at once, he’ll come.
Boyce.
Here he is.
Etchingham.
[At the same time.] At last.
[George Winter comes in and surveys them for a moment. He smiles sardonically.
George Winter.
Quite a party.
Etchingham.
We thought you were never coming.
George Winter.
What’s the trouble?
James Ford.
[Pointing to the paper.] That’s the trouble.
Bennett.
The Financial Standard has got an attack on the Campo del Oro.
George Winter.
[Calmly.] Is that all?
James Ford.
It’s a good deal.
George Winter.
The Lewishams have got The Financial Standard in their pockets.
James Ford.
You read it.
Swalecliffe.
They say there’s no gold in the mine.
George Winter.
What do they know about it? They’ve not been there and my expert has.
James Ford.
That’s just it. They say you’re floating it on the report the owners gave you when you bought it, and you’re holding back Macdonald’s.
George Winter.
[Looking over the article.] It’s extraordinary what a lot the papers know. [The telephone rings.] What is it? [He listens for a moment.] London call. You’d better go and speak to them, Fred. [Down the receiver.] No, don’t connect with me. Mr. Bennett will come along. [Bennett goes out.] It’s one of my brokers. Now let’s go on. As abuse I don’t really think very much of it. I could have said much unpleasanter things about myself.
Swalecliffe.
You seem to take it very calmly.
George Winter.
I’ve not been fighting the Lewishams for ten years without getting some pretty hard words broken on my back.
James Ford.
D’you see that bit about where the money came from?
Etchingham.
I didn’t see that.
George Winter.
I’ll read it you, shall I? [Reading.] “It is stated that Mr. Winter paid eighty thousand pounds for this precious mine. It would perhaps be interesting to inquire how he was able to raise such a sum at a time not only of general stringency, but of peculiar difficulty in the Central American market. Perhaps Mr. Winter, like King Midas, is able to turn into gold everything he touches and he may have been able to change his office furniture into precious metal. Perhaps not.” Childish, isn’t it? Do they think I’m going to let out my little trade secrets to please them?
James Ford.
But where did you get the money?
[Etchingham gives a slight start, but George Winter remains perfectly cool.
George Winter.
My dear fellow, you don’t suppose I stole it, do you? That’s where the born financier comes in. He makes money as a conjurer makes a white rabbit appear out of a silk handkerchief.
James Ford.
[Drily.] A very satisfactory explanation.
[For an instant, hardly perceptible to the others, the eyes of George Winter and James Ford meet.
George Winter.
But that’s hardly the point, is it?
[During the rest of the scene James Ford is thinking the matter over. His eyes rest on George Winter as if he were trying to guess something.
Boyce.
Something must be done at once.
George Winter.
Have the Tories got hold of it?
Boyce.
They’re printing the article on posters.
George Winter.
Nuisance, isn’t it?
[He pauses to reflect for a moment. Mr. Swalecliffe breaks in upon his thoughts.
Swalecliffe.
Is there any truth at all in that article, Mr. Winter?
George Winter.
Not a word.
Swalecliffe.
It puts me in a very awkward position.
George Winter.
What’s the matter with you?
Swalecliffe.
I thought the shares would go to a premium before they were issued.
George Winter.
[Smiling.] Like the San José tramways, eh?
Swalecliffe.
Mr. Ford says this will — bust the issue.
George Winter.
Nice of him.... Been having a little gamble, have you?
Swalecliffe.
If it was a certainty I didn’t see there could be any harm in it.
George Winter.
[With a chuckle.] Like playing with loaded dice? How many shares have you applied for?
Swalecliffe.
Five hundred.
George Winter.
Sporting of you.
Swalecliffe.
I didn’t mean to take them up, you understand. I haven’t got more than five hundred pounds in the world. I thought they were bound to go up half a crown and....
George Winter.
Five hundred half crowns are quite worth having, aren’t they?
Swalecliffe.
It’s been a lesson to me. I’ll never do anything like it again. I shan’t have the chance. If I have to pay for the shares....
George Winter.
Get my cheque book, Teddie.
O’Donnell.
Yes, sir.
Swalecliffe.
What are you going to do?
George Winter.
I don’t want anyone to come into this concern who doesn’t believe in it. Make out a cheque for five hundred pounds to Mr. Swalecliffe.
[O’Donnell writes out a cheque during the next speeches.
Swalecliffe.
That’s very generous of you.
George Winter.
Generous? Not a bit of it. You don’t think I mind having five hundred shares more, do you?
Swalecliffe.
D’you think they’re worth it?
George Winter.
They’ll be worth ten pounds a piece in six months, or I’m a Dutchman.
[O’Donnell hands him the cheque-book and a pen. George Winter signs his name and tears out a cheque.
James Ford.
[While he is doing this.] That looks as if you had confidence in the mine.
George Winter.
[Handing the cheque to Swalecliffe.] Here you are. [To James Ford.] D’you want me to buy your shares off you?
James Ford.
[With a quiet smile.] Not just yet, thank you.
Swalecliffe.
But what’s the meaning of the article, then?
George Winter.
Why, it’s as plain as a pikestaff. The Lewishams were willing to give their eyes for the mine, but I was too much for them. Now they’re crabbing it. That’s all.
[He says this with great assurance, as if it thoroughly explained the whole thing.
Swalecliffe.
But then....
George Winter.
Pay that into your bank and hand over the certificate to me when you get it.
Swalecliffe.
D’you think they’ll go to a premium?
George Winter.
I’ve no doubt of it. I da
re say the five hundred half-crowns will be just as useful to me as to you. But I shall hold on. I want a bigger profit than that.
Swalecliffe.
But if they’re good enough for you, they’re good enough for me.
George Winter.
No, you’ve taken my cheque now. It’s too late.
Swalecliffe.
There’s your cheque. You can have it back again. I’m going to keep the shares.
George Winter.
[Good-humouredly.] Well, I don’t mind. It won’t make much difference to me. But don’t sell them, whatever you read in the papers. What’s a profit of half a crown? Wait till you’ve got a profit of five pounds, and then you can think of selling them.
Swalecliffe.
[With a gasp.] Five pounds? That would be two thousand five hundred.
George Winter.
[Turning to Colonel Boyce.] Wait a minute. Get on to Bishop and Jones.
Boyce.
The printers?
George Winter.
We must answer this article. I’ve just been thinking what we’d better say.
[He sits down and begins to write, while Colonel Boyce goes to the telephone.
Boyce.
What’s their number, d’you know?
James Ford.
703, I think.
Boyce.
Is that the Exchange? Give me 703, will you? That is Bishop and Jones, the printers, isn’t it?
George Winter.
I’m going to make it hot and strong.
O’Donnell.
Isn’t there anything I can do?
Boyce.
Are you Bishop and Jones?
George Winter.
Tell them to have everything ready to print off a couple of thousand posters at once. You’re just coming round in the car.
Boyce.
Hulloa? Will you get everything ready to print off a couple of thousand posters at once. I’m just coming round. Colonel Boyce. Yes. That’s it.
George Winter.
[Speaking through Colonel Boyce’s instructions to the printers.] What d’you think of this, Ford?
James Ford.
Let’s have a look.
George Winter.
You see we’ve got the advantage that they have to print a whole article. And we only need a couple of sentences.
James Ford.
Yes, that seems all right.
Etchingham.
Couldn’t be better.
George Winter.
Make a copy of it, Teddie. Hurry up.
Boyce.
We haven’t got any time to lose.
George Winter.
The car’s at the door.
O’Donnell.
I shan’t be a minute.
George Winter.
You can get hold of the bill-posters, can’t you?
Boyce.
Oh, yes, there’ll be no bother about that.
O’Donnell.
Here you are. That’s done.
George Winter.
Take it, Boyce. And hurry up.
Boyce.
[Taking a copy of the reply.] Trust me.
[He goes out.
George Winter.
[Handing O’Donnell a second copy.] Teddie, jump into a cab and go round to the newspaper offices. And tell them to put that in their next edition. Biggest type they’ve got. Then go to the Committee Rooms and wait. I’ll ring you up there or come round.
O’Donnell.
All right.
George Winter.
And hustle, or I’ll sack you.
[He goes out, and as he does so Bennett comes in.
James Ford.
You’re taking it better than I expected.
George Winter.
What do you expect me to do; bang my head on the floor and tear out my hair? Can’t afford it. Takes me all my time to keep my hair on.
Etchingham.
Here’s Bennett.
George Winter.
Well?
Bennett.
Nothing much has happened. They’re a bit excited in the City.
James Ford.
No bad drop in anything?
Bennett.
Nothing to speak of.
James Ford.
That’s a relief.
George Winter.
Everything is sound. No one would be such a fool as to do a bear.
Bennett.
I’m getting on to MacLaren and Hewitt.
George Winter.
That’s all right. I wanted them.
James Ford.
Are they brokers?
George Winter.
Yes. Look here, Ford. I’m due to speak in the Cattle Market now. I wish you’d go down and keep them going till I turn up. I shall only be ten minutes. You’ve got the line all right, Fred?
Bennett.
Yes.
James Ford.
Well, I don’t mind if I do that. There’s nothing I can do here, is there?
George Winter.
No, leave it all to me. Your interests are my interests.
James Ford.
I’ll make tracks.
George Winter.
That’s good.
[James Ford goes out.
Bennett.
Governor, I thought I’d better not say too much while he was there.
George Winter.
I saw something was up. That’s why I got rid of him.
Bennett.
Things are rotten.
Etchingham.
Good Lord.
Bennett.
The Lewishams are going for us.
George Winter.
I thought they would as soon as I saw the article.
Bennett.
Who’s given it away, d’you think?
George Winter.
How do I know? That doesn’t matter. The only thing is to face it.
Etchingham.
D’you mean our shares are falling, Mr. Bennett?
Bennett.
There’s a lot of selling.
George Winter.
I wish we could corner them. I’d like to give the bears a lesson.
Bennett.
If it goes on there’ll be a panic.
George Winter.
You’ve told the brokers to do all they can to prevent its going too far?
Bennett.
I’ve told them to buy, but carefully.
George Winter.
You must go up to London, Fred. There’s no one there with a head on his shoulders.
Bennett.
I thought that was the best thing myself. I’ve looked out the trains. I can just catch the express. I shall be there soon after one.
George Winter.
Then bolt at once. I give you a free hand.
Bennett.
If the slump can be stopped, I’ll stop it.
George Winter.
It’s not a matter of can. It must be stopped. And wire reassuring messages. We must hang on to the telephone for all we’re worth.
Bennett.
Good-bye.
George Winter.
And come back when the House closes. We must talk over things.
Bennett.
All right. Good luck.
[He goes out.
Etchingham.
Is it all up with us, George?
George Winter.
What the dickens are you talking about?
Etchingham.
They’ve found out the truth. It’s there in black and white that the wretched mine’s worthless.
George Winter.
They can’t prove anything.
Etchingham.
Ever since I knew I’ve scarcely closed my eyes at night. I wish I’d shot myself when you first told me.
George Winter.
My dear fellow, you’re much more comfortable here than you would be at Kensal Green.
Etchingham.
And the worst of it is..
.. [He breaks off.] At first I was overcome with the horror of it. But little by little I’ve got used to it, used to your being a thief and a swindler.
George Winter.
[With a chuckle.] You put things rather bluntly, don’t you?
Etchingham.
And Bennett was a convict. It all seems quite natural now. And I can talk and laugh with you. And I eat by your side every day.
George Winter.
One can’t make a fortune without taking risks.
Etchingham.
There are always those missing bonds. They’re in my thoughts day and night.
George Winter.
No one can make inquiries for three weeks. By that time we shall have gone to allotment, and the bonds will be safely back in the black box.
Etchingham.
But will you be able to go to allotment?
George Winter.
Of course we shall. This article isn’t going to do us any harm. I shall win the seat. That’ll give these Middlepool people confidence.
Etchingham.
George, I believe Ford is uneasy. I don’t trust him. Supposing he found out about the bonds?
George Winter.
It might be devilish expensive.
Etchingham.
You’ll never buy him.
George Winter.
I never met the man yet who hadn’t his price. Flattery if he’s a fool, hard cash if he’s a wise man. But a price of some sort. There’s always a price.
Etchingham.
Take care of Ford, George.
George Winter.
[With a smile.] I’m not frightened.
Etchingham.
Sometimes I’m afraid, you’re so confident. It’s impossible a thing like this can end well.
George Winter.
I believe in my star. I’ve been in tight corners before, but I’ve wriggled out of them. I’m stronger than ever I was. I’ve got ten times more brains than any of my competitors. The ball is at my feet and I’ve only got to set it rolling. What d’you think difficulties are to me? I’ve never been in better spirits, so alert, so buoyant, as during these last weeks when my neck has been in a noose and every policeman I passed might have a warrant in his pocket for my arrest. If there were ten times more difficulties I’d overcome them all. In ten years I shall be the richest man in London. In fifteen I shall be a peer. My God, I feel as if the world were an orange and I’d got my teeth into it, and I shall suck it dry.
Etchingham.
I wonder how many ruined lives will be sacrificed to give you all you want. You walk over dead bodies and broken hearts.
George Winter.
Rot! I flutter the will-o’-the-wisp of gain before the covetous, and they follow. They want to make money without working for it. Well, I’m cleverer than they are. Swalecliffe gambles with his five hundred pounds. His five hundred pounds will find its way into my pocket. It’s his own look out. Each for himself and the devil take the hindmost. [With a start.] By George, I’ve got an idea.... The Lewishams can’t attack my stocks without weakening their own. We’re in the same boat, and if one of us shakes it both’ll topple out.
Delphi Collected Works of W. Somerset Maugham (Illustrated) Page 371