“A short time ago,” Gaunt continued quietly, “Mr. Weiss and his two friends came to me and suggested a deal in Amantis. At the outset I suspected that there was something wrong, for neither of those gentlemen is a philanthropist, and if all had been straightforward, there was no reason to ask me to participate in their scheme. As a matter of fact, it had been arranged that a forged cable should be sent from the mines announcing a fresh and valuable discovery of gold—and we were to take our profits on the rise which would naturally ensue. This has been done, and I reckon that about twenty odd thousand pounds have been cleared. Do I make myself quite clear, Drake?”
“I don’t see how our business concerns this gentleman,” Weiss cried truculently. “Give me the check and let me go.”
“Have I made a fair statement of the case?” asked Gaunt.
Edward Drake was watching the scene with keen interest, and he was wondering what Gaunt would decide to do. It was quite clear that this enormous profit had been procured by fraud, and this would be a test of the strength of the Vow.
Weiss was beside himself with rage and amazement so that for a while he was incapable of speech, but soon he grew calmer and told himself reassuringly that this was but a joke that was being played upon him.
“Look here, Gaunt; this has gone far enough. You know that my time is valuable and I want to get off. Just calculate our share and let me have a check like a good fellow,” he said with a cheerfulness that he was far from feeling.
“I don’t intend to keep the profits, neither do I intend that you shall touch one penny piece of them. Look in to-morrow’s Times and you will see an announcement that will interest you,” Gaunt said pleasantly.
Now Weiss realized that it was no pleasantry and his voice became loud and there was menace in his eyes.
“Very well, Gaunt. It’s no use discussing it further just now, but I’ll just say that if I don’t get a check in the course of a week, I’ll make things pretty hot for you. It seems to me that you are not yourself this morning, and it’s only fair to give you a little time for consideration. I can be a dangerous enemy as you’ll find out. Good-day. Come along,” he said to his friends, and they followed him obediently.
Drake drew a deep breath when they had gone but made no remark, although there was an inquiring expression in his eyes that brought a smile to Gaunt’s face. The latter touched the bell, and Foster entered, note-book in hand.