There was dead silence for several moments, and the men looked at one another uneasily. It was evident that the suggestion was unwelcome to most of them, and Nasmyth was quite aware that he was doing an unpopular thing. In the meanwhile dusk had crept up the valley, and the room was growing dim. Perhaps Waynefleet could not see his companions’ faces very well, but it is also possible that, had he been able to do so, he would not have troubled himself about the hesitation in most of them. There are men of his kind who appear incapable of recognizing the fact that they are not regarded with general favour.
Finally one of the men spoke. “Seeing that the scheme is Nasmyth’s, I guess it’s only reasonable to fall in with his views as far as we can,” he said. “We’ll fix on Waynefleet.”
There was a murmur of very dubious agreement, and Waynefleet, who stood up, smiled on the assembly patronizingly. His manner suggested that he was about to confer a favour.
“Our friend was warranted in mentioning that I have been accustomed to handling affairs of a somewhat similar nature, but of considerably greater magnitude,” he 226 said. “I have pleasure in placing what abilities I possess at your disposal, gentlemen.”
Though it was growing dark, Nasmyth saw the amused light in Gordon’s eyes. “I’m with you in this,” said Gordon. “Still, I scarcely figured the boys would have stood him.”
They discussed the scheme at length, and when the assembly broke up, Waynefleet approached the table where Gordon, Nasmyth and Wheeler sat under a big lamp.
“There is a point I did not mention at the time. It seemed to me it was one that could, perhaps, be arranged,” said Waynefleet. “It is, of course, usual for a director of any kind to hold a certain financial interest in the scheme.”
He looked at Nasmyth, and made a significant gesture. “Unfortunately there are not at the moment more than a very few dollars at my disposal. The fact, you will recognize, is likely to hamper my efforts in an administrative capacity.”
“Precisely!” said Nasmyth. “It is a matter I have provided for. You will be placed in possession of a holding of the size the others fixed upon as convenient when the blocks are divided off.”
“No larger?”