Their tone to each other was one of perfect gravity. Mr. Hilary even went out of his way to choose becoming phrases.
‘He won’t have anything to do with it if he gets to know who R. Delancey is.’
‘I was prudent, believe me. I laid before him the aspects of the undertaking which would especially interest him. I made it clear to him that our enterprise is no less one of social than of commercial importance; he entered into our views very heartily. The first time I saw him, I merely invited him to glance over our prospectus; yesterday he was more than willing to join our association—and share our profits.’
‘Did he tell you how much he’d got out of those poor devils over there?’
‘A matter of sixty pounds, I gathered. I am not a little astonished at his success.’
‘Oh, he’d talk the devil himself into subscribing to a mission if it suited him to try.’
‘He is clearly very anxious to get the highest interest possible for his money. His ideas on business seemed, I confess, rather vague. I did my best to help him with suggestions.’
‘Of course.’
‘He talked of taking some five hundred pounds’ worth of shares on his own account.’
The men regarded each other. Rodman’s lips curled; Mr. Hilary was as grave as ever.