“I suppose it is that wretched Congo again,” Lady Ethel said petulantly, but she left the room.
“What is it?” Gaunt asked quietly, exchanging glances with his wife who had drawn closer and had slipped her hand into his.
“I really came to see you about this Congo foolishness, but there is something in to-night’s paper that is of more consequence. Please read this paragraph, and you will understand why I am rather upset.”
Gaunt took the paper, and his lips were firmly pressed together when he saw the head-lines.
“A deal in Amanti Shares. Curious story at the Police Court.”
He rapidly mastered the statement which followed—the arrest of Davis at the instance of the Mining Company for having forged and despatched the cable, and the explicit statement that Julian Weiss and John Gaunt were the men who had planned the forgery. In counsel’s short speech the facts were disclosed, and Gaunt realized that it was impossible to deny their accuracy.
Without saying a word, he handed the paper to Lady Mildred, and his eyes were fixed anxiously on her face as she read.
“I don’t understand it,” she said at last.
“It is simple. If this account is true, your husband conspired with the Jewish financier, Weiss, to commit a gross fraud upon the public. Is that correct?” Lord Lynton demanded of Gaunt.
“Yes, it is quite right,” was the quiet reply.