He had mapped out
a clear line, and meant to follow it.
"I regret to say that I cannot answer you, Mr. Fenshawe," said he,
meeting the older man's searching glance unflinchingly.
"Why not?"
"Because I gave an undertaking to that effect to Baron von Kerber."
"But I am your employer, not he."
"No, sir. That is not my view of the contract I signed."
"Have you a copy of that contract'?"
"Yes."
"Will you show it to me?"
"That is unnecessary," broke in von Kerber, with a savage impatience of
the quasi-judicial inquiry which Mr. Fenshawe was evidently bent on
conducting. "I give Mr. Royson full permission to answer any question
you may put to him."
"You do, eh? You give permission? Do you pay his salary?" demanded the
millionaire indignantly.
"Yes, on your behalf. Surely the arrangement between us cannot be
disputed. I was to make all arrangements, yes?"
"As my paid agent, you should add."
Mrs. Haxton suddenly sat forward in her chair.
"We had a tacit agreement for an equal division of the spoil," she
interposed, with an acidity that Mr.
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