“I should not be the first man to advance them,” was the reply. “In both Houses somewhat similar opinions have been expressed before now; of course, my views may be wrong——”
“You do not mean, Mr. Raidsford, that you have ever contemplated such a possibility?” interrupted Mr. Stewart.
“Yes, I have,” was the reply; “contemplated, much more closely, the pros and cons of limited liability, than you have the Protector’s chances of ultimate success. The system is rotten, Mr. Stewart, and you and such men as you, who derive profit from these ventures without incurring one halfpenny of risk, ought to be the first to confess that it is so.”
“I have two thousand shares in the Protector Bread Company on my own risk, at all events,” said Mr. Stewart.
“I am delighted to hear it, in one way,” answered Mr. Raidsford; “delighted, because it proves you to be a thoroughly honest man; but sorry, because if anything do go wrong with the Company, your loss will be considerable.”
“But I am determined nothing shall go wrong with the Company.”
“In that case, doubtless you devote a considerable amount of attention to the mills!”
“Mr. Raidsford, have you any specific charge to make against our manager?”
“If I had,” was the reply, “I should go before the board and prefer it. I make no charge, but I recommend caution. I was right about Lord Kemms, you perceive.”
“We do not admit that,” broke in Douglas Croft; “we are his opponents now, and must fight the matter out with him.”