Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/204

Rh was going to be done. But the whole point is the particular companies concerned in this primary provisional scheme. And nobody knew which they were but the President of the Board of Trade and his private secretary."

"The President—that's Horace Kimball."

"Yes. No politics about him. He's the rubber king, you know. He was brought in on the business men for a business Cabinet cry. He was really put there to get these nationalization schemes through."

"And he begins by arousing city scandal. Business men and business methods. Well, well! Give me the politicians after all. I was born respectable. I would rather be swindled in the quiet, old-fashioned way. I like a sense of style."

"Quite—quite," said Lomas heartily. "But I must say I have nothing against Kimball. He is the usual thing. Thinks he is like Napoleon—pathetically anxious you should suppose he has been educated. But he really is quite an able fellow, and he means to be civil. Only he's mad to catch the fellow who gave his scheme away. I don't blame him. But it's damned awkward."

"If only Kimball and his private secretary knew, either Kimball or the private secretary gave it away."

"My dear Fortune, if you say things like that, I shall break down. That is the hopeless sort of