"What d'you mean?"
"For a month from now neither you nor I will move further in the Hudson
Bay scheme. For a month it'll be hung up."
"Who's to hang it up?"
"I."
"But I've got your signed approval in my pocket. Signed and witnessed!"
"The issue is not yet underwritten." It was a sheer guess, but in
Larssen's face Matheson could read that his guess was correct.
"Well?" snapped Larssen.
"Either you or I will tell the underwriters that the scheme goes no
further until a month from date--until May 3rd. Which is it to be--you
or I?"
Sylvester came in rapidly. "All your orders are being carried out, and
the car's on the way here from the garage."
For a few tense moments Larssen hesitated. The underwriting of the
five-million issue was an absolute essential to a successful flotation,
and the negotiations were not yet completed. If Matheson were to
interfere in them during his absence from London, big difficulties might
develop. Before that cablegram arrived, the shipowner could have beaten
down any such threat on Matheson's part, but now, with his little son
calling for his presence, with the special train at Paddington coupling
up to speed him to Plymouth, with the "Aurelia" turning back, against
the protest of its thousand passengers, to take him on board, the
situation was radically changed.
Matheson had realised the altered situation, and putting aside any
over-fine scruples, had gripped advantage from it.
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