"How dare you, sir?" John Martin broke in, clenching his fist.
"Gently, gently, Mr. Martin!" Hamar observed, backing towards the door. "Gently--you promised to give me a courteous hearing. I meant no offence. I say I admire your daughter immensely--she takes the shine out of our American girls."
"The deuce she does!" John Martin foamed.
"She does, you bet!" Hamar went on. "And I see no reason if she likes me, why we couldn't get engaged. I would do the thing handsomely as far as money goes. What do you say?"
"I say that unless you're very careful I shall break my promise and kick you."
"I would pay you a big lump sum to take me into partnership," Hamar went on complacently, "and I would introduce a number of new tricks that would stagger creation. I shouldn't be in any hurry to marry--the length of the engagement would be for you to decide."
"Then it would be _ad infinitum_," John Martin said grimly, "for you'll never get my consent to a marriage."
"Never is a long day--and even a John Martin may change. You want new blood and new capital in your Firm--you would have both in me. I assure you your show would boom as it has never boomed before!"
"And the only condition on which you offer me all this is my daughter?"
"You have said it--that is the one and only condition. Your daughter--my brains, my dollars."
"Good!" Hamar exclaimed; "I guessed you would! There's nothing like the almighty dollar, is there?"
"Yes!" John Martin rejoined; "the almighty fist--and that's what you'll get if you don't clear out of this house instantly. And if you ever come skulking round here again, or write me any more letters I'll set my. solicitor on to you."
"Then it's war--war to the knife!" Hamar sneered. "How melodramatic! But it won't last long. I shall yet be your partner--and I shall yet have Miss Gladys! Au revoir--I won't say good-bye!" and with a mock bow he hurriedly took his departure.
That night Messrs. Martin and Davenport's entertainment had progressed as usual for about half an hour when it suddenly came to a full stop. A man in the lowest tier of boxes had risen and was addressing the audience in a loud voice: "Ladies and gentlemen!"
In an instant all heads swung round and there were stentorian shouts of "Silence!"