“That very useful fool named Heaton has suddenly gone out of his mind.”
“Insane?”
“Yes,” she responded. “At least, he seems so to me. I placed the matter before him, but he refused to have anything whatever to do with it. His standing in the City has been utterly shattered by all sorts of rumours regarding the worthlessness of certain of the concessions, and as far as we are concerned our hopes of successfully raising the loan have now disappeared into thin air.”
“What!” he cried. “Have you utterly failed?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Heaton assisted us while all was square, but now, just when we want a snug little sum for ourselves, he has suddenly become obstinate and refuses to raise a finger.”
“Curse him! He shall assist us—by Heaven! I’ll—I’ll compel him!” cried her mysterious companion furiously.
“To talk like that is useless,” she responded. “Remember that he knows something.”
“Something, yes. But what?”
“He knows more than we think.”
“Where is he now?”