Christopher got up and went to the open window. The tussle between them had come. It would need all his strength to keep himself free from this man’s toils. However generous in appearance, Christopher knew they were toils for him, and must be avoided.
“Aymer’s done well enough for you so far,” pursued Peter Masters from the depths of his chair. “We will grant him all credit, but this is the affair of a business man: it requires capital: it requires business knowledge: and it requires faith. You will have to go to someone if you don’t come to me, and I’m making you a better offer than you’ll get elsewhere. I’ll do more. We’ll buy up the other men if they are dangerous. You can have their experience, too. It’s only a question of investing enough money.”
As he stood there in the window Christopher realised it all: how near his darling project lay to his heart, how great and harassing would be the difficulties of launching it on the world; how sure success would be under this man’s guidance, and yet how with all his heart and soul and unreasoning mind he hated the thought of it, and would have found life itself dear at the purchase of his freedom. 247
His hands shook a little as he turned, but his voice was quiet and steady.
“It is very generous of you, sir, but I could not possibly pledge myself to you or any man.”
“I’m asking no pledge. I’m only asking you to complete your own invention, and when it’s completed I’ll help you to use it.”
“I must be free.”
“You own you can’t use any discovery by yourself, you’d have to go to someone. I come to you. The credit will be yours. I only find the means and share the return—fair interest on capital.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what? Do you doubt my financial ability or financial soundness?”