"If you refuse to adopt that view all I can see for it is either to drop the whole thing or to let Van Diest come in and split the profit."
For one instant the placid blue eyes of Mr. Torrington were lit with a shiny white fire.
"Van Diest will not be in this, Cassis," he said.
"But look here, dear old Mr. Torrington," Lord Almont exclaimed.
"Surely you agree that Barra ought to give us his trust."
The old man smiled whimsically.
"Think so?" he said.
"I mean to say, we're not the kind of people to take advantage of a man."
"Nonsense! Of course we are," came the answer.
"That's honest," Barraclough laughed.
"Not at all, my dear boy, it's a confession of dishonour of which I am heartily ashamed."