He continued to make a careful perusal of the prospectus.
"Cold figures," agreed Sykes. "We have the best connections, private wires through to London, New York, etc., all of which means a big place in the financial world. Here are our ratings."
McClure looked them over, his eyes evincing the most intense interest. Before he could speak Sykes thrust into his hand a paper.
"A little bit of Who's Who? Read it over; it will acquaint you with public opinion. It speaks well of us."
As McClure finished he looked up, his eye fascinated by some alluring mental object. Sykes was sitting back nonchalantly in his swivel chair, his partially emptied glass poised in his hand. He observed his companion with a smile.
"What do you make of it all?" was his question.
"It is a great surprise to me and yet—I long ago surmised something like this. I knew of John Sykes as a prominent financier, but had not the faintest idea there was any connection between you."
"There may not be," said Sykes, with a peculiar laugh. "I may be faking. It would be easy to frame up a setting like this."
McClure shook his head.
"You look too much like John Sykes. He is the only man I have ever seen with a jaw like yours."