“That seems to be in order,” Jacob admitted, “except that I always thought Peter spelt his name ‘Petre.’”
“Swank,” Montague scoffed. “As a matter of fact, though, I thought so myself until I saw the signature.”
Jacob examined the letter from the solicitors. It was brief and conclusive:
Dear Sir,
Re the Empress Music Hall. We have examined the undertaking for the disposal of the above, signed by the owner and addressed to you, and we find the same duly in order and a legal document.
Faithfully,
Danesworthy & Bryan.
The third paper contained a list of the contributors. Mr. Montague headed the list with twenty-five thousand pounds. The Marquis was down for five thousand. The other names, ranging from three thousand to five hundred, were all people of title, many of them relatives of the Marquis.
“Sounds like a Court guide,” Jacob remarked, passing it back.
“I have been privileged,” the Marquis observed, stroking his grey moustache, “as Mr. Montague has already told you, to place his proposition before various members of my family. I have found them, one and all, anxious to share in the profits of Mr. Montague’s—er—enterprise.”