'But I want to ignore them,' she said. 'Why won't you see that I don't want to win with my personality but with my art. That should be the irresistible thing.'
'It would be if they resisted it, but they don't. They ignore it.... I can't think of anything else, my dear. They've got my money: ten thousand in the Imperium and twenty in Argentinos, and they are using my name for all they are worth.'
'And if I hadn't asked you to stay after the birds and fishes it wouldn't have happened.'
'After all, it hasn't come to disaster yet.'
'But it will. It is all coming to a head, and Charles will have to be the one to suffer for it.'
'I promise you he shan't. He shall have a dozen committees and all the birds and fishes he requires.'
She could not help laughing. Perhaps, after all, her fears were exaggerated, but she dreaded Charles's helpless acquiescence in the plight to which he had been reduced by Mr Gillies's refusal to advance him a penny outside the terms mentioned in the contract.
'It certainly looks to me,' said Verschoyle, 'as if they wanted to break him. It wouldn't be any good my saying anything. They would simply point to their contract and shrug their shoulders at Charles's improvidence. How much did Mr Clott get away with?'
'A great deal. He had several hundreds in blackmail before he went. That is why we can't prosecute.'
Verschoyle whistled.