He was certainly willing to risk the 5,000 pounds demanded if he could rid himself and his daughter of this terrible incubus, even if it were only for a time.If Lopez would but once go to Guatemala, leaving his wife behind him, it would be comparatively easy to keep them apart should he ever return.The difficulty now was not in him, but in her.The man's conduct had been so outrageous, so barefaced, so cruel, that the lawyer did not doubt but that he could turn her husband out of his house, and keep the wife, even now, were it not that she was determined to obey the man whom she, in opposition to all her friends, had taken as her master.'I have done it myself, and I will bear it,' was all the answer she would make when her father strove to persuade her to separate herself from her husband.'You have got Everett,' she would say.'When a girl is married she is divided from her family;--and I am divided.' But she would willingly stay if Lopez would bid her stay.It now seemed that he could not go without the 5,000 pounds; and, when the pressure came upon him, surely he would go and leave his wife.
In the course of that day Mr Wharton went to the offices of the San Juan mine and asked to see the Director.He was shown up into a half-furnished room, two storeys high, in Coleman Street, where he found two clerks sitting upon stools;--and when he asked for the Director was shown into the back room in which sat the Secretary.The Secretary was a dark, plump little man with a greasy face, who had the gift of assuming an air of great importance as he twisted his chair round to face visitors who came to inquire about the San Juan Mining Company.His name as Hartlepod; and if the San Juan mine 'turned out trumps', as he intended that it should, Mr Hartlepod meant to be a great man in the city.To Mr Hartlepod Mr Wharton with considerable embarrassment, explained as much of the joint history of himself and Lopez as he found to be absolutely necessary.'He has only left the office about half an hour,' said Mr Hartlepod.
'Of course you understand he is my son-in-law.'
'He has mentioned your name to us, Mr Wharton, before now.'
'And he is going to Guatemala?'
'Oh yes;--he's going out.Has he not told you as much himself?'
'Certainly, sir.And he has told me that he is desirous of buying certain shares in the Company before he starts.'
'Probably, Mr Wharton.'
'Indeed, I believe he cannot go unless he buys them.'
'That may be so, Mr Wharton.No doubt he has told you all that himself.'
'The fact is, Mr Hartlepod, I am willing, under certain stipulations, to advance him the money.' Mr Hartlepod bowed.'Ineed not trouble you with my private affairs between myself and my son-in-law.' Again the Secretary bowed.'But it seems to be for his interest that he should go.'
'A very great opening indeed, Mr Wharton.I don't see how a man is to have a better opening.A fine salary! His expenses are paid! One of the very best things that has come up for many years! And as for the capital he is to embark in the affair, he is as safe to get twenty per cent in it,--as safe,--as safe as the Bank of England.'
'He'll have the shares?'
'Oh yes;--the scrip will be handed to him at once.'
'And,--and--'
'If you mean about the mine, Mr Wharton, you may take my word that it's all real.It's not one of those sham things that melt away like snow and leave the shareholders nowhere.There's the prospectus, Mr Wharton.Perhaps you have not seen that before.
Take it away and cast your eyes over it at your leisure.' Mr Wharton put the somewhat lengthy pamphlet into his pocket.'Look at the list of Directors.We've three members of Parliament, a baronet, and one or two City names that are as good,--as good as the Bank of England.If that prospectus won't make a man confident I don't know what will.Why, Mr Wharton, you don't think that your son-in-law would get those fifty shares at par unless he was going out as our general manager.You'll see if you look.About a quarter of a million paid up.But it's all in a box as one may say.It's among ourselves.The shares ain't in the market.Of course it's not for me to say what should be done between you and your son-in-law.Lopez is a friend of mine, and a man I esteem, and all that.Nevertheless I shouldn't think of advising you to do this or that,--or not to do it.But when you talk of safety, Mr Wharton,--why, Mr Wharton, I don't scruple to tell you as a man who knows what these things are, that this is an opportunity that doesn't come a man's way perhaps twice in his life.'
Mr Wharton found he had nothing more to say, and went back to Lincoln's Inn.He knew very well that Mr Hartlepod's assurances were not worth much.Mr Hartlepod himself and his belongings, the clerks in his office, the look of the rooms, and the very nature of the praises which he had sung, all them inspired anything but confidence.Mr Wharton was a man of the world; and, though he knew nothing of City ways, was quite aware that no man in his senses would lay out 5,000 pounds on the mere word of Mr Hartlepod.But still he was inclined to make the payment.If only he could secure the absence of Lopez,--and if could be sure that Lopez would in truth go to Guatemala, and also if he could induce the man to go without his wife, he would risk the money.
The money would, of course, be thrown away,--but he would throw it away.Lopez no doubt declared that he would not go without his wife, even though the money were paid for him.But the money was an alluring sum! As the pressure upon the man became greater, Mr Wharton thought he would probably consent to leave his wife behind him.
In his emergency the barrister went to his attorney and told him everything.The two lawyers were closeted together for an hour, and Mr Wharton's last words to his old friend were as follows:--'I will risk the money, Walker, or rather I will consent absolutely to throw it away,--as it will be thrown away,--if it can be managed that he shall in truth go to this place without his wife.'
