“Objection? Certainly not. I am highly delighted with our acquisition. Besides, the seat at the board is entirely in your gift. I have no right to object, even if I wished to do so.”
This was said with such an air of childlike simplicity that the perturbed Metcalfe, who seemingly still retained some remnants of conscience, showed confusion.
“True enough,” he murmured. “Still, I should not like to nominate anyone who might be personally distasteful to you.”
“I cannot imagine, Metcalfe, why you should suppose Nicholson could be distasteful to anyone. He is a tower of strength. I am overjoyed that you have induced him to join us.”
“I am very much relieved to hear you say so,” rejoined Metcalfe, who seemed bewildered at the turn things had taken.
The preliminary meetings of the company had all been held in Steele’s offices. This afternoon, however, the directors were to forgather at the board-room of the bank in which the deposits of the subscribers were lodged. Steele was thus to beard the lion in the lion’s own den, for he now no longer doubted that this bank was owned by Peter Berrington, Nicholson and their colleagues. The appointed hour was three o’clock, and John Steele arrived on the stroke, the last man to appear. Nicholson stood in the centre of the group. Metcalfe, who had quite recovered his composure, said with a fine air of good comradeship:
“I think you two gentlemen have met before, so a formal introduction is not necessary between Mr. Steele and Mr. Nicholson.”
“I had the somewhat chastened satisfaction of encountering Mr. Steele once under conditions I am not likely to forget,” said Nicholson quietly, with impressive geniality. “I count myself one of Mr. Steele’s numerous admirers.”
“It is kind of you to say that, Mr. Nicholson,” replied John, extending his hand, while that winning smile of his played about his lips. “On the occasion to which you refer, I was so unhappy as to be placed in opposition to Amalgamated Soap. I am the more gratified, therefore, to find myself in some measure a colleague of so distinguished a coterie, even if I am admitted into but an outer temple, as it were.”
“Your gratification, Mr. Steele, is as nothing compared to my own at seeing you here amongst us.”