Page:The Outcry (London, Methuen & Co., 1911).djvu/74

60 "Then ship it to New York?" the inquirer pursued, defining himself somehow as not snubbed and, from this point, not snubbable.

That appearance failed none the less to deprive Lord John of a betrayed relish for being able to displease Lady Grace's odd guest by large assent. "As fast as ever he can—and you can land things there now, can't you?—in three or four days."

"I dare say. But can't he be induced to have a little mercy?" Hugh sturdily pursued.

Lord John pushed out his lips. "A 'little'? How much do you want?"

"Well, one wants to be able somehow to stay his hand."

"I doubt if you can any more stay Mr Bender's hand than you can empty his purse."

"Ah, the Despoilers!" said Crimble with strong expression. "But it's we," he added, "who are base."

"'Base'?"—and Lord John's surprise was apparently genuine.

"To want only to 'do business,' I mean, with our treasures, with our glories."

Hugh's words exhaled such a sense of peril