"
"_You!_" exclaimed the amazed Sir Francis.
"Why not?" quietly replied the shipowner.
"But----!" The baronet paused in perplexity.
"Well, what's the particular 'but'?"
"We--the company--would have to ask you for the fullest security."
"Of course."
"Security up to the whole five million pounds."
"Of course."
"But----But I don't quite see your reason for the suggestion."
"My reason is just this," answered Larssen earnestly. "I want that
prospectus to breathe out confidence in every line and every word. I
want the whole five millions taken up by the public, and not left partly
on the underwriters' shoulders. I want to do everything I can to make
the public realise that they're being offered the squarest deal that
ever was. What better plan could you have than getting the
vendor--myself--to guarantee the whole issue at a mere 3 per cent.
cover? No financial house of any standing would look at it for a trifle
of 3 per cent. But I stand in and take the whole risk--the whole five
million risk--and give you securities on my ships that bears looking
into with a microscope."
Sir Francis gasped his admiration of the daring offer.
"That's pluck!" he exclaimed.
"Well, what do you say? Are you agreeable, for one?"
"Certainly--certainly!"
"Then will you bring St Aubyn and Carleton-Wingate here, and get their
consent? Say to-morrow morning?"
"That's very short notice."
"You can get them on the telephone.
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