“You told me,” he said, looking at Melun, “that this was a matter of blackmail.”
He spoke quite unblushingly, as though such a business was an every-day affair, which, as a matter of fact, it was.
“You told me,” he continued, “that the person to be blackmailed occupied a high position in the State, and that it was so necessary for him to purchase our silence that he would pay practically any price.
“You mentioned a quarter of a million, of which you yourself proposed to take fifty thousand pounds, dividing the rest of the money among us. You also took the oath of the club before me and declared that whatever might be said to the contrary you were determined to play fair.
“You further said that it was absolutely impossible to reveal any details of the scheme to me, as, should anyone know of the matter besides yourself, discovery would be inevitable.
“In fact, you declared that it was the most difficult, and at the same time the boldest, piece of work that you had ever attempted.”
Patmore stopped abruptly in his recitation.
“And that, gentlemen,” said Melun, nodding towards the men, “is absolutely true.
“It is also true,” he continued, “that to win this vast amount of money it was necessary to lay out a certain amount of capital. I hadn't the money on hand, and it was inadvisable to approach the usual sources.
“I trusted”—and there was an increased bitterness in his voice—“I trusted this man Robinson.
“But, would you believe me, gentlemen, I have just discovered that he is not Robinson at all, nor Smith, nor Jones—nor anyone, indeed, of small importance in this world?
“Now, gentlemen, it would be inadvisable at this moment to tell you precisely who he is, but one thing I may tell you, and that is that he is a gentleman of title, and a man of wealth and position.”
The men turned their wondering gaze on Westerham.
“Now, for what purpose do you suppose that a man of title, of wealth and position is mixing himself up with our affairs?”
Melun paused for a few minutes, and watched with satisfaction intelligence dawn on the stupid, brutal faces before him, which stared first at himself in amazement, and then gloomily and savagely at Westerham.
Westerham, however, to their further astonishment, was laughing quietly, his teeth bared in quite an amused and pleasant smile.