A word from me to this shrewd, hard-headed man of business, and the two would, I felt assured, find themselves in the hands of the police.
Yes, I now held the trump card. At any moment the pair might drive up to pay their promised visit to Sir Mark. And when they did, what an awkward surprise would await them!
I laughed within myself when I realised how innocently they would fall into my vengeful hands.
So communicative and pleasant was the bald-headed man that I went one step further, daring to ask:
“I presume the price your firm paid for the secret of the new process was a substantial one?”
“A very large one,” he replied. “A big sum down, as well as a handsome royalty. This must be the second fortune which Greer has made. He has received a lot of money for his process of hardening armour-plates. The Admiralty use only plates hardened by the Greer process, for here, as in many other things, England is still ahead of Germany.”
“Have you ever been to the Professor’s house in London?” I asked.
“Never. He has, however, invited me to dine there next week.”
“Next week!” I cried. “Then, of course, you’ll go? You’ll probably find Kershaw Kirk there.”
“Yes,” he laughed; “most probably. He’s a strange man—isn’t he?—and most influential.”