“Surely that is my business. If I like to throw away my own money, it only concerns myself. On occasions I have given away large amounts, when there was no prospect of an adequate return.”
The Earl’s face flushed, and he rose to his feet.
“I suppose you intend to refer to myself. You were very generous, and the money came when I was hard pressed. I am very grateful to you for your kindness, but I shall begin to regret that I accepted any benefit at your hands.”
“You are mistaken, Lynton. On my honor I was not thinking of you. The money I settled was on my wife’s brother, and you are not under the slightest obligation towards me. If you had not been Mildred’s brother, I should have seen you damned before giving you a penny, so you may make your mind easy. I never professed to like you personally, for you always struck me as being one of those ultra-self-satisfied people, who are an offense to the mere ordinary person. One only has to look at you to know that you appreciate yourself at your full value—and a little over. Forgive my plain speech, but you rather brought it upon yourself.”
Lord Lynton looked curiously at Gaunt, and knew not whether to resent this frankness; but he quickly remembered his mission, and forced a rather sickly smile to his face.
“It is a good thing to hear an opinion of oneself. But let us return to the Congo. I want you to promise to give up this crusade. It can’t really mean very much to you, and you will be doing me a great favor. Naturally the foreign office know that you are my brother-in-law, and——”
“They may think the less of you for possessing such an undesirable relative? I am afraid I can give you no such promise, for instead of relaxing my efforts, I intend to redouble them, until I force the government to intervene,” Gaunt said, and the voice was grimly determined.
“Governments are not moved so easily, and you will only injure yourself.”
“I have already done that, for I am pretty sure that the Belgians are responsible for the Amanti exposure.”
“All the more reason why you should do as I ask,” the Earl broke in quickly.