"We'll vote on the scheme—the words for or against will be sufficient without your names," he said.
Each wrote on a scrap of paper and flung it into a hat in turn, but two of them, it was noticeable, hesitated for a moment or so. Then Hunter shook out the papers and counted them.
"It's even—three for and three against," he announced. "Since that's the case I'll exercise my chairman's option. It's against."
There was satisfaction in some of the faces and in the others uncertainty, which, however, scarcely suggested much regret. Then they decided on Hunter's recommendation to raise what capital they could among their friends, even if they had to content themselves with a smaller outlay. Nevis, who was called in, heard the result with an easy indifference.
"Well," he said, "I can't complain. There was a risk in the thing, anyway, and I guess you know what you want best."
He went out again, and soon afterward the meeting broke up; but Hunter, who remained after the others had gone, was not astonished when Nevis presently strolled into the room. He sat down opposite Hunter and lighted a cigar.
"I suppose I have you to thank for this," he began.
"You mean the choosing of the alternative scheme? How did you find out that you owed it to me?"
It was a difficult question, put with a disconcerting quietness. As it happened, none of the committee had informed Nevis that the matter had been decided by the chairman's vote, and he was naturally reluctant to admit that three of them were under his influence.
"I didn't find out," he answered. "I assumed it."