“No,” he said, “I am not misinformed. My friend here has parted with the money on the security of two battleships and a cruiser, now building in Shepherd & Hargreaves’ yard at Belfast. The two battleships and cruiser in question belong to me. I have paid two hundred thousand pounds on account of them, and hold the shipbuilder’s receipt.”
“You are mad!” Bernadine cried, contemptuously.
Peter shook his head and continued.
“The battleships were laid down for the Turkish Government, and the money with which to start them was supplied by the Secret Service of Germany. The second installment was due ten months ago and has not been paid. The time of grace provided for has expired. The shipbuilders, in accordance with their charter, were consequently at liberty to dispose of the vessels as they thought fit. On the statement of the whole of the facts to the head of the firm, he has parted with these ships to me. I need not say that I have a purchaser within a mile from here. It is a fancy of mine, Count von Hern, that those ships will sail better under the British flag.”
There was a moment’s tense silence. The face of the Turk was black with anger. Bernadine was trembling with rage.
“This is a tissue of lies!” he exclaimed.
Peter shrugged his shoulders.
“The facts are easy enough for you to prove,” he said, “and I have here,” he added, producing a roll of papers, “copies of the various documents for your inspection. Your scheme, of course, was simple enough. It fell through for this one reason only. A final notice, pressing for the second installment and stating the days of grace, was forwarded to Constantinople about the time of the recent political troubles. The late government ignored it. In fairness to Major Kosuth, we will believe that the present government was ignorant of it. But the fact remains that Messrs. Shepherd & Hargreaves became at liberty to sell those vessels, and that I have bought them. You will have to give up that money, Major Kosuth.”
“By God, he shall!” the American muttered.
Bernadine leaned a little towards his enemy.